HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Members: Allowances

Graham Allen: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission whether the House authorities have requested the return of the disc containing personal financial information of hon. Members from the Daily Telegraph.

Nick Harvey: In the absence of a police investigation the House authorities are not in a position to confirm whether or not there is such a disc, or who may have such a disc in their possession. I refer the hon. Member to Mr. Speaker's statement of 11 May 2009 referring to steps the House authorities have taken to remind publishers of the serious security implications if personal data that might expose Members and others to risks to their safety were to be published.

Members: Allowances

Graham Allen: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if the House of Commons Commission will advise hon. Members on changing their bank details following the disclosure of hon. Members' personal financial information.

Nick Harvey: All Members were advised, by letter, on 13 May that they should consider taking action. I will send the hon. Member a copy of the letter.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Elections

Eleanor Laing: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission whether the Electoral Commission has provided guidance to electoral registration officers in local authorities on the storage of electoral records.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it issues guidance to all electoral registration officers, which highlights the importance of ensuring that electoral records containing personal data are stored securely.
	In particular the Commission's guidance recommends that electoral registration officers should seek guidance from the appointing authority's Data Protection Officer and IT department on appropriate procedures to mitigate risks to the security of electoral data.
	The Commission further informs me that the Ministry of Justice has published guidance on common standards for the storage of electors' details on the electoral register.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Conditions of Employment

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many and what proportion of staff of his Department, its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies work flexibly or part-time; and what his Department's policy is on making jobs available on a job-share or flexible basis.

Si�n Simon: Currently there are 50 (10.3 per cent.) out of a total of 481 staff working part-time in DCMS. However, all staff are actively encouraged to work alternative working patterns, including flexible working, compressed hours, and working from home. These are mainly arranged at local line management level and the Department does not hold comprehensive data centrally about the percentages of staff involved. The Department's policy is that all posts are considered suitable for part-time employees or job-share unless there is a clear business case outlining why this should not be the case.
	The Royal Parks Agency currently has seven (7 per cent.) out of 100 staff working part-time. Application forms ask for applicants to state their preferred working patterns including whether they wish to be considered for a job share.
	We do not hold information centrally about our non-departmental bodies.

Departmental Food

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the proportion of  (a) lamb,  (b) beef,  (c) chicken,  (d) pork,  (e) turkey,  (f) other meats,  (g) vegetables and  (h) fruit procured by his Department that was produced in the UK in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Si�n Simon: The proportion of food procured by the Department during 2008-09 which was produced in the UK was as follows:
	
		
			Percentage 
			  (a) Lamb 100 
			  (b) Beef 100 
			  (c) Chicken 100 
			  (d) Pork 95 
			  (e) Turkey 100 
			  (f) Other meats 0 
			
			  (g)  Vegetables  
			  Ware potatoes-whole, unprepared 90 
			  Processed potatoes-whole, prepared 90 
			  Root vegetables and onions 90 
			  Brassicas 90 
			  Legumes 90 
			  Protected vegetables-e.g. tomatoes 80 
			  Other vegetables-e.g. asparagus 85 
			
			  (h)  Fruit  
			  Orchard fruit 75 
			  Soft fruit 70

Departmental Legal Costs

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the  (a) cost and  (b) purpose was of legal (i) representation and (ii) advice sought by his Department and its agencies in each year since May 1997.

Si�n Simon: The overall legal costs incurred by the Department and its Agency, The Royal Parks, from 2005-06 to 2008-09 are set out in the table.
	Information relating to prior years can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Legal advice is provided by the Treasury Solicitor's Department and, where required, by counsel and private sector legal firms. The purpose of the advice is to support the whole range of the Department's activities, including policy making, the drafting of statutory instruments and the preparation of Bills.
	
		
			  Financial year  Legal expenditure (£) 
			 2008-09 2,724,750 
			 2007-08 2,873,160 
			 2006-07 3,190,360 
			 2005-06 2,454,740

Departmental Official Cars

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of providing official cars for the use of  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in the last 12 months.

Si�n Simon: The cost of providing official cars for the use of Ministers in 2008-09 was £276,668. No departmental official was provided with an official car.

Departmental Rail Travel

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on what date he last travelled by train in the course of his official duties.

Ben Bradshaw: I travelled by train to Nottingham on 20 November.

Departmental Recruitment

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of jobs advertised by his Department in the last 12 months were online only applications; and what provision his Department makes for those wishing to apply for jobs in his Department who do not have access to the internet.

Si�n Simon: 95 per cent. (or 113 out of 119) of the recruitments that took place between November 2008 and November 2009 were advertised on the internet only. These were recruitments that were open to existing civil servants only. Posts open external to the civil service are often advertised in the press as well. As yet no provisions are in place to advertise internal Civil service recruitments in a non-electronic format, however, paper-only applications are accepted by the Department and information on current vacancies is available and readily given to any individual who contacts the Department inquiring about current opportunities.

Licensing

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether his Department provides guidance on whether hon. Members and district councillors are included in the definition of 'interested parties' or 'responsible authorities' in section 13 of the Licensing Act 2003 and in the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Licensing Act 2003 (the 2003 Act) and associated guidance issued by the Secretary of State and by my Department sets out the individuals or bodies that are interested parties and responsible authorities under the 2003 Act. Members of Parliament and district councillors are not responsible authorities under the 2003 Act and, currently, are interested parties only if they live, or operate a business, in the vicinity of the premises. In addition, if requested to do so, they can make representations on behalf of a resident or a business who themselves is an interested party under the 2003 Act.
	In recognition of the important role that local authorities play in co-ordinating efforts to manage local alcohol related problems, the Policing and Crime Act 2009 includes a provision which, when in force, will make local councillors interested parties under the 2003 Act and therefore able to make representations on licence applications and seek licence reviews in their own right as councillors.

WALES

Departmental Disclosure of Information

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many allegations of victimisation for whistleblowing have been made to his Department by its staff since 6 June 2006.

Peter Hain: The Wales Office has had no occurrence of whistleblowing.

Departmental Official Cars

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of providing official cars for the use of  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in the last 12 months.

Peter Hain: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, my hon. Friend the Member for Gillingham (Paul Clark) on 16 July 2009,  Official Report, column 80WS.

Departmental Taxis

Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what contracts his Department has with private hire taxi companies; and what expenditure his Department has incurred against each such contract in each of the last three years.

Peter Hain: None.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces: Cadets

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how much funding is required for cadet instructors to resume training;
	(2)  what remuneration cadet instructors will receive in 2009-10; and from what budget such remuneration will be drawn.

Kevan Jones: We fully recognise the contribution that the cadets make to the long-term future of the Army and to society in general. But tough choices have to be made. Our focus is on Afghanistan and the cadets do not contribute directly to that main effort. We have therefore taken the very difficult decision to reduce the amount of money available to the Army Cadet Force for the remainder of the year. This means that instructors will receive no further payments for weekend Cadet training, although we will continue to meet enabling costs such as travel where we can. We will also continue to provide training courses at the Cadet Training Centre and at Brigade level for adult instructors, as it is essential that we maintain that core of skill and expertise. Instructors are not paid for evening training activity, so this is continuing as normal. The reduction in activity is saving a total of £4 million. By the end of 2009-10 Army cadet instructors will have received some £13 million from the Army budget.
	We acknowledge the huge level of commitment and enthusiasm within the Army Cadet Force, and among the volunteer adult instructors in particular.

Armed Forces: Pay

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many deductions of earnings requests each of the armed forces received from the Child Support Agency and the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission in the last three years for which figures are available; how many requests were  (a) complied with and  (b) not complied with by each service; and under what circumstances a service will not comply with a deduction of earnings request.

Kevan Jones: Data are not held in a format which would identify a breakdown of the number of deductions from earnings requests. However, the total numbers received across the services since January 2007 to date are provided in the following table:
	
		
			   Number 
			 January to December 2007 3,577 
			 January to December 2008 5,507 
			 January 2009 to date 4,147 
		
	
	Deductions from earnings requests are complied with in all but exceptional circumstances. If an individual was not in receipt of pay, for example because they were absent without leave, this would prohibit compliance. In instances where a non-resident parent cannot be contacted because they are committed to operational duties, the CSA would be informed accordingly, and asked to resubmit the request in six months.
	Under armed forces legislation, it is not always possible for the full amount of a deductions from earnings request to be taken from a serviceperson's salary. Under the Minimum Drawing Rate regulations, no individual can have more than 50 per cent. of their net pay deducted in respect of certain items, including deduction of earnings requests. Individuals will, nonetheless, remain liable for the amounts as ordered. Such arrears must either be cleared via private arrangements, or by continued monthly deductions from salary at the end of the period of liability.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of progress towards his Department's recruitment targets for the armed forces in the  (a) short and  (b) medium term; and how many personnel have been recruited into the armed forces from non-Commonwealth countries in each of the last three years.

Kevan Jones: Recruiting targets are determined annually based on current and forecast outflow rates and liability, and recruitment to all three services continues to improve. Targeted national, regional and local level recruiting campaigns coupled with the current economic climate are factors contributing to increased interest.
	Shortages in some key trades remain a concern. This is being addressed through retention incentives, increased recruiting, and by restructuring the services to improve effectiveness.
	Manning Balance is defined in the MOD's public service agreement as between -2 per cent. and +1 per cent. of the requirement. The Army has moved into Manning Balance and the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force are both forecast to move into Manning Balance during 2010.
	With the exception of the citizens of the Republic of Ireland and Nepalese citizens recruited into the Royal Gurkha Rifles we do not recruit outside of the Commonwealth.
	Gurkha intake was fixed at 230 personnel over the previous three financial years 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09.
	The following table provides the number of other personnel recruited into the UK Regular Forces who register a non-Commonwealth nationality.
	
		
			  Non-Commonwealth 
			   Number 
			 2006-07 40 
			 2007-08 70 
			 2008-09 60 
			  Notes:  1. Figures have been rounded to 10. When rounding to the nearest 10, numbers ending in 5 have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.  2. Availability of data has been affected by the introduction of the Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) system. Figures for 2006-07 exclude the RAF and Army figures for 2006-07 are for the 11-month period from 1 April 2006 to 28 February 2007.  3. All figures are provisional and subject to review due to ongoing validation of data from JPA.

Armed Forces: Waste Disposal

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the potential effectiveness of pyrolysis waste disposal systems generating heat and electricity whilst troops are on operations; and how wet and dry waste is disposed of during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Quentin Davies: The use of pyrolysis waste disposal systems on operations to generate heat and electricity may not be viable, due to the low electrical power output such systems can generate and the difficulty in utilising heat energy in hot desert environments. MOD is however, committed to investigating this and is conducting a study into the quantity and type of waste produced in theatre, which will enable the Department to determine the best energy from waste solution.
	Currently dry waste in theatre is sorted and plastics and metals are recycled by local companies. The rest is incinerated in theatre. MOD is in the process of supplying Membrane Biological Reactors in order to treat sewage and it is investigating the re-use of grey water from showers.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armoured vehicles of each type were classified as  (a) in service,  (b) fit for purpose and  (c) not in service on the latest date for which figures are available.

Quentin Davies: The numbers of armoured vehicles of each type classified as 'in service', 'fit for purpose' and 'out of service' are provided in the following table.
	Significant quantities of Mastiff, Vector, Bulldog and Snatch are currently in the process of withdrawal to the UK following the cessation of operations in Iraq.
	
		
			  Vehicle  In service  Fit for purpose  Out of service 
			 AS90 145 132 0 
			 Challenger 2 345 261 40 
			 CRARRV 81 70 0 
			 CVR(T) 1,052 928 116 
			 FV 430 (Mk2 and Bulldog) 1,110 658 290 
			 Fuchs 11 11 0 
			 Saxon 147 147 0 
			 Titan 33 24 0 
			 Trojan 33 25 0 
			 Warrior 793 552 0 
			 Mastiff 271 134 0 
			 Panther 401 334 0 
			 Ridgeback 118 73 0 
			 Snatch 2 (including variants) 653 358 0 
			 Vector 192 87 0 
			 Viking 116 86 0

Defence Estates: Sales

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 12 November 2009,  Official Report, columns 702-3W, on Defence Estates: sales, how much of the total receipts accrued in 2007-08 have been allocated for the purposes of improving armed forces accommodation.

Kevan Jones: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 10 November 2009,  Official Report, column 222W to the hon. Member for Westbury (Dr. Murrison).

Departmental Assets

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assets of his Department are planned to be sold in each year from 2009-10 to 2013-14; what the  (a) description and  (b) book value of each such asset is; what the expected revenue from each such sale is; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) keeps its estate under constant review to meet present and planned future requirements, with a view to disposing of surplus assets as quickly as possible. A list of the sites comprising the present and potential future programme is available in the Library of the House.
	Details of all MOD holdings over £1 million, including sites in disposal, together with their latest asset valuations can be found in Chapter Seven of the National Asset Register, on HM Treasury's website:
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk
	Details of all property below £1 million in value could be provided only with disproportionate cost.
	Receipts from individual sales depend on market conditions at the time of sale and other factors. Where pre-sale valuations have been obtained, then release ahead of the sale could, in any case, influence the market and they are thus regarded as commercially confidential.

Nuclear Submarines: Decommissioning

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much had been spent on the submarine dismantling project on the latest date for which figures are available.

Quentin Davies: Up to and including 31 March 2009, the latest date for which figures are available, spending on the Submarine Dismantling Project had been £3.15 million, excluding staff costs.
	At this time the project was still known as the ISOLUS (Interim Storage of Laid-Up Submarines) project.

Territorial Army: Finance

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to publish the Territorial Army budget for financial year 2010-11.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 23 November 2009
	The Army budget for 2010-11 will be published in the Defence Estimates in spring 2010 following approval in the House of Commons. However, this will not separately identify individual cost areas within the total budget; the ethos is of one Army-Regular and Territorial. The financial systems do not allow costs such as stock, ammunition and rations to be separately identified from those incurred by Regular units.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Departmental Official Cars

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of providing official cars for the use of  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in the last 12-months.

Chris Bryant: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, my hon. Friend the Member for Gillingham (Paul Clark), on 16 July 2009,  Official Report, column 80WS.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departmental Manpower

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff of each grade work at each location on services which his Department has contracted out; what the  (a) contractors and  (b) services provided are in each case; what the length of each contract is; and what union recognition agreements are in place with each contractor.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) has contracts with third party suppliers for a number of services which are carried out on DFID premises. Information on the name of contractors and the services provided is available on the DFID website at:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Working-with-DFID/Procurement/Contracts-let/
	It is not possible to provide the number of staff broken down by civil service grades. Union recognition agreements are a matter between our suppliers and their employees.

Latin America: Overseas Aid

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding his Department has provided to each south and central American country in each year since 2006.

Michael Foster: Information on the Department for International Development's (DFID) aid to all developing countries is available in the publication Statistics on International Development, which is available in the Library or online at:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-DFID/Finance-and-Performance/Aid-Statistics/Statistics-on-International-Development-2009/
	Details of funding in south and central America can be found at:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Documents/publications/sid%202009/Table%2014.2%20America.xls

Overseas Aid

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent steps have been taken to provide information for the public on the allocation of funds from the public purse to overseas aid projects.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) has published summary information on each of its overseas aid projects via its website since August 2009. We are working on arrangements and a time table for publishing further details of our projects. In doing so, we need to balance our commitment to transparency with the need to protect sensitive information, and the cost and practicality of publishing information in a usable format.
	In October 2009 DFID also published Statistics on International Development which contains summary data tables on the destination and purpose of all UK official expenditure on international development in each of the last five years. A copy is available in the Library as well as at:
	www.dfid.gov.uk

Overseas Aid

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the time taken between the commitment and delivery of funds was in respect of each pledge made by his Department in each of the last five years.

Michael Foster: This information cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Sri Lanka: Internally Displaced Persons

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what reports he has received of sexual and gender-based violence against Tamil women in the camps of northern Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Foster: It is very difficult to verify reports or allegations of sexual and gender-based violence in the camps in Sri Lanka. This is because access for humanitarian agencies, particularly those who work on protection activities, has been extremely restricted. We continue to press the Government of Sri Lanka to allow humanitarian agencies access to the camps to assess allegations of abuses such as sexual and gender-based violence.
	The UK Government have consistently advocated for the treatment of all internally displaced persons (IDPs) held in camps in Sri Lanka to be in accordance with international standards.
	The most effective way to ensure the safety of women displaced by the conflict is to restore freedom of movement to the IDP population so vulnerable people can be reunited with their families and communities.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Climate Change

Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many  (a) Ministers and  (b) civil servants from the Government Equalities Office will be attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in an official capacity.

Michael Jabez Foster: None,

Departmental Hotels

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what expenditure the Government Equalities Office incurred on hotel accommodation in 2008-09.

Michael Jabez Foster: In 2008-09 the Government Equalities Office spent £8,234 on hotel accommodation.

Departmental Official Cars

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what the cost of provision of Government cars to special advisers in the Government Equalities Office was in the last 12 months.

Michael Jabez Foster: The Government Equalities Office does not provide Government cars to special advisers and therefore there has been no expenditure for this service.

Departmental Pay

Vincent Cable: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many staff in the Government Equalities Office received bonus payments in 2008-09; what proportion of the total workforce they represented; what the total amount of bonuses paid was; what the largest single payment was; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Jabez Foster: In 2008-09 the Government Equalities Office awarded 19 bonuses to its staff at a total cost of £28,400. The 19 staff represented 19 per cent. of the total work force. The highest individual bonus awarded was £10,500.

Departmental Training

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what training sessions were attended by  (a) Ministers and  (b) special advisers in the Government Equality Office at public expense in each of the last three years.

Michael Jabez Foster: Since its creation on the 12 October 2007 the Government Equalities Office has not funded any training sessions for its Ministers or special advisers.

Departmental Working Hours

Andrew Selous: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many and what proportion of staff of the Government Equalities Office work flexibly or part-time; and what her Office's policy is on making jobs available on a job-share or flexible basis.

Michael Jabez Foster: The Government Equalities Office (GEO) operates a flexible working policy which is available to all staff and this is offered on all job vacancies. We currently have six staff who work part-time and this equates to 5.5 per cent. of our work force.

TRANSPORT

A5: M1

Andrew Selous: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of the costs  (a) to date and  (b) by the end of the 2009-10 financial year of preparing the A5-M1 link.

Chris Mole: holding answer 23 November 2009
	The total cost at the end of October 2009 of preparing the A5-M1 Link scheme is £11.8 million. The estimated total costs by the end of the 2009-10 financial year is £12.8 million.

Bus Services: South East

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what steps his Department is taking to reduce the incidence of alcohol-related violent, anti-social behaviour on buses in  (a) Milton Keynes and  (b) the South East.

Sadiq Khan: The Department for Transport has not directly undertaken any specific initiatives in relation to Milton Keynes or to the South East.

Departmental Pay

John McDonnell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the  (a) average and  (b) highest non-consolidated performance related payment was in cash terms for senior civil servants in his Department in each of the last five years.

Chris Mole: holding answer 23 November 2009
	The  (a) average and  (b) highest non-consolidated performance related payment in cash terms for senior civil servants in the Department for Transport in each of the last five years is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  £ 
			   Average non-consolidated performance related payment  Highest non-consolidated performance related payment 
			 2009 6,359 12,500 
			 2008 7,001 22,000 
			 2007 5,749 20,000 
			 2006 4,975 12,500 
			 2005 3,565 17,000

Departmental Pay

John McDonnell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport with reference to the answer of 2 November 2009,  Official Report, column 632W, on departmental pay, when the next equal pay review for each bargaining unit will be held.

Chris Mole: The table shows when each of the Department for Transport's bargaining units will be carrying out its next equal pay review.
	
		
			  Bargaining unit  Next equal pay review 
			 Department for Transport (Centre) December 2009 
			 Driver Vehicle and Licensing Agency January 2010 
			 Highways Agency February 2010 
			 Vehicle and Operating Services Agency July 2011 
			 Government Car and Dispatch Agency April 2010 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency October 2012 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency July 2012 
			 Driver Standards Agency May 2012

Departmental Rail Travel

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport on what date he last travelled by train in the course of his official duties.

Sadiq Khan: On Friday 20 November 2009.

Electric Vehicles: Milton Keynes

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what steps his Department is taking to encourage the use of electric vehicles in Milton Keynes.

Sadiq Khan: The Government have allocated over £400 million to deliver policies aiming to place the UK at the global forefront of ultra-low carbon vehicle development, demonstration, manufacture and use. These policies would all be applicable to encouraging the use of electric vehicles in Milton Keynes.
	Some measures are available nationally, such as £230 million to provide consumer support worth in the region of £2,000 to £5,000 per car to be used between 2011 and 2014.
	Other measures have a regional focus. For example on 19 November, the Government launched the Plugged-in Places infrastructure framework, providing up to £30 million to support the deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in around three to six lead cities and regions across the UK. The aim of this scheme is for consortia to come forward with plans for roll outs of the electric vehicle infrastructure in their region.

Helicopters: Accidents

Anne Begg: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport when the draft Air Accident Investigation Branch report on the Etap field helicopter incident will be with the statutory recipients; and when he expects to publish the final version.

Paul Clark: The accident occurred on 18 February 2009 and is the subject of an inspector's investigation. The Civil Aviation (Investigation of Air Accidents and Incidents) Regulations 1996 state that a report on an investigation should be made public in the shortest time possible (and if possible, within 12 months of the date of the accident or serious incident).
	The subject investigation is complex in nature and requires significant consultation with Eurocopter, the helicopter manufacturer. This has introduced some delays to the investigation process. While it is difficult to predict the future time scale for concluding the outstanding technical issues it is hoped that the draft report will be ready for distribution to the statutory recipients by March 2010. Publication of the final report typically occurs three months after representations have been received and considered but it dependent on the issues raised by those consulted.

Integrated Transport Smartcard Organisation: Finance

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport with reference to the answer of 5 November 2009,  Official Report, column 1103W, on the Integrated Transport Smartcard Organisation: finance, how much his Department and its agencies have spent on  (a) pilots,  (b) design studies,  (c) development,  (d) consultants and  (e) equipment relating to the Integrated Transport Smartcard Organisation in each of the last 10 years.

Sadiq Khan: The table sets out payments made directly to ITSO Ltd. (and its predecessor, the Integrated Transport Smartcard Organisation) in the last 10 years, broken down into development and consultancy. Please note the membership fees are included in the development figures.
	No funding for pilot schemes has been paid directly to ITSO Ltd. However, the Department for Transport has made payments to public authorities to support pilots and in some cases the transition of legacy schemes to ITSO compliance.
	The Department has not fund design studies for ITSO.
	The Department has not directly funded equipment purchase for ITSO Ltd. However, some public authority schemes will have used DFT funding to purchase equipment for their schemes, for example smartcard readers.
	
		
			  £ 
			   Development  Consultants  Total spend exc. VAT 
			 1999-2000 104,000 0 104,000 
			 2000-01 25,000 0 25,000 
			 2001-02 20,000 0 20,000 
			 2002-03 1,058,000 46,647 1,104,647 
			 2003-04 2,690,180 47,704 2,732,884 
			 2004-05 311,275 34,481 345,756 
			 2005-06 485,256 44,691 529,947 
			 2006-07 223,176 4,982 228,158 
			 2007-08 760,700 9,184 769,884 
			 2008-09 130,000 650 130,650

M6: Walsall

David Winnick: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport 
	(1)  whether the chief executive of the Highways Agency plans to visit residents of the parts of Walsall borough affected by works on the M6 when he visits the sites in the borough where work is being undertaken;
	(2)  with reference to the letter of 13 November 2009, from the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency to the hon. Member for Walsall North, on what date the Chief Executive plans to visit Walsall to inspect the work being undertaken on the M6.

Chris Mole: holding answer 23 November 2009
	 The chief executive of the Highways Agency has agreed to visit the site of the Managed Motorways work on the M6. I have asked the chief executive to notify my hon. Friend when details are finalised.

Motor Vehicles: Safety

Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will make it his policy to oppose any proposals from the European Commission which would require existing vehicles to use daytime running lights.

Paul Clark: We have argued successfully against mandatory European rules on the use of dipped headlamps during daylight hours by existing vehicles (except when required by conditions, eg fog) and are not aware of any new proposals along these lines.
	Special, dedicated, low-wattage daytime running lamps will be required by early 2011 for all new types of passenger car/light van and by summer 2012 for all other new types. We are not aware of any proposal to retro-fit such lamps to existing vehicles.

Public Transport: South East

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the level of violence and abusive behaviour on public transport in  (a) Milton Keynes and  (b) the South East.

Sadiq Khan: The Department for Transport (DFT) does not routinely assess regional public transport crime or antisocial behaviour data.
	The British Transport police collect crime data for crime committed at rail stations and on trains, as well as London Underground, Docklands Light Railway, Glasgow Subway, Croydon Tramlink and the Midland Metro tram system.
	Crime committed at bus stations and on buses may be collected by the bus operator, local authority, Passenger Transport Executive and/or local police. These data are not collated or assessed at a national level by DFT.

Railway Network: Finance

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what account his Department takes of local authorities' growth point status when determining the level of funding for new railway infrastructure.

Chris Mole: Local authorities are best placed to determine the transport requirements arising from any growth point in their area. They can fund railway infrastructure through the Community Infrastructure Fund and prioritising the use of Regional Funding Allocation for investment in such an area. The Department for Transport also takes account of population and employment growth when determining future capacity requirements of the railway funded through the High Level Output Specification.

Railways: Closures

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what his policy is on the  (a) promotion and  (b) facilitation by his Department of the reopening of closed railway (i) lines and (ii) stations.

Chris Mole: It is for local authorities and regions to determine whether or not a re-opened railway or a new station is the best way to meet local or regional transport needs. They can fund a scheme from the regional funding allocation if it is a priority and demonstrates value for money. The Department for Transport is prepared to work with promoters of new lines, services and stations to help and advise them on how their objectives can be achieved and to facilitate their implementation through changes to franchises.
	Where investment requires the provision of new or enhanced services, the policy is that a subsidy required should be funded by the promoter for at least the first three years. Following that period, if the service is successful and demonstrates value for money, subject to funds being made available, the Government would consider funding it thereafter as part of the national rail network.

Railways: Finance

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much his Department has spent on  (a) consultancy fees and  (b) other aspects of the Intercity Express programme to date.

Chris Mole: From 2005 to October 2009, the Department for Transport has spent £21 million on the Intercity Express Programme. This resource has included financial, procurement, programme management, technical, legal, industry, business case and other specialist advice required to ensure the successful delivery of a project of the scale of the Intercity Express Programme. This figure should be considered in the context of the Intercity Express Programme contract value of £7.5 billion.

Rolling Stock

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many of the 1,300 extra carriages referred to in the Government's Rail White Paper of July 2007 have been ordered; and on which lines they will be operating.

Chris Mole: holding answer 23 November 2009
	As I set out in my answer of 14 October 2009,  Official Report, columns 895-96W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Heywood and Middleton (Jim Dobbin), so far there have been 543 new rail carriages ordered by the following train operators:
	
		
			  TOC  Class  Type  Number of vehicles 
			 Southern 377 EMU-DV 48 
			 London Midland 350/2 EMU 148 
			 London Midland 172 DMU 69 
			 Chiltern 172 DMU 8 
			 Southern 377 EMU-DV 44 
			 Virgin West Coast 390 EMU 106 
			 NXEA 379 EMU 120 
		
	
	On 23 July, the Government announced a major new electrification programme which radically affects the requirements for train rolling stock over the next decade. In particular, there will be far less need for diesel trains and a greater requirement for electric trains. The Department for Transport will publish a new rolling stock plan in the autumn, setting out a revised strategy.

Rolling Stock

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport when he expects to issue the rolling stock statement which the Secretary of State indicated in July would be published in the autumn of this year; and whether this statement will cover both the Intercity Express programme and the 1,300 extra carriages referred to in the Government's Rail White Paper of July 2007.

Chris Mole: holding answer 23 November 2009
	 As set out in my answer to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) of 26 October 2009,  Official Report, columns 12-13W, on 23 July the Government announced the electrification of the Great Western Main Line between London and Swansea, and the line between Liverpool and Manchester via Newton-le-Willows. This electrification programme radically affects the requirements for rolling stock over the next decade. We will publish an updated rolling stock plan, taking account of these changes and setting out a revised strategy in the autumn.
	This will happen in due course and will set out the Government's strategy in relation to rolling stock provision.

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) of 26 October 2009,  Official Report, column 12W, on rolling stock: procurement, by what date he expects to publish the updated rolling stock plan.

Chris Mole: As set out in my answer to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) of 26 October 2009,  Official Report, columns 12-13W, on 23 July the Government announced the electrification of the Great Western Main Line between London and Swansea, and the line between Liverpool and Manchester via Newton-le-Willows. This electrification programme radically affects the requirements for rolling stock over the next decade. We will publish an updated rolling stock plan, taking account of these changes and setting out a revised strategy in the autumn.
	This will happen in due course.

Thameslink: Rolling Stock

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer of 12 November 2009,  Official Report, column 639W, on Thameslink: Rolling Stock, when he expects to  (a) announce the preferred bidder and  (b) place the final order for the Thameslink rolling stock programme.

Chris Mole: The identification of a preferred bidder prior to final award will depend on the progress of the evaluation and negotiations with the remaining bidders. As set in out in my answer of 12 November 2009,  Official Report, column 639W, the Department for Transport is currently planning to award the order around autumn 2010.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Homes and Communities Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Homes and Communities Agency has spent on its National Consultancy Unit since the establishment of that unit.

John Healey: Since the National Consultancy Unit's establishment in 1 April 2004, staff costs (salaries) are estimated as £10,062,940.

Homes and Communities Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how much the Homes and Communities Agency has spent on providing  (a) signage and  (b) security for the site at (i) St Clements Hospital, London and (ii) Castle College Northside, Sheffied;
	(2)  how much the Homes and Communities Agency spent in acquiring  (a) St. Clement's Hospital, London and  (b) Castle College Northside, Sheffield; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: St Clements Hospital, London was purchased for £7 million on 11 June 2008. Since purchasing St. Clement's Hospital, the Homes and Communities Agency has spent:
	£255,323 on security up to and including 31 October 2009; and
	£504 on safety and warning signage.
	Castle College Northside, Sheffield was purchased for £5 million on 16 July 2008.
	The Homes and Communities Agency has not spent anything on signage or security on Castle College as the college are occupying the site until 2010.

Rent to HomeBuy Scheme

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects to make a decision on the future of the pilot Rent to HomeBuy scheme.

John Healey: Rent to HomeBuy is proving successful in supporting first time buyers and providers of affordable housing, and will continue for the remainder of the 2008-11 National Affordable Housing Programme.

Christmas

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Christmas parties his Department plans to host in 2009; what has been budgeted for each such reception; what estimate he has made of the proportion of  (a) lamb,  (b) beef,  (c) chicken,  (d) pork,  (e) turkey,  (f) other meats,  (g) vegetables,  (h) fruit and  (i) alcohol to be served at each such function which is produced in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: The Department does not fund staff Christmas parties and in respect of any other functions this question could be answered only at disproportionate cost.
	A second report on the proportion of domestically produced food used by Government Departments and also supplied to hospitals and prisons under contracts negotiated by NHS Supply Chain and HM Prison Service was published in November 2008, covering the year from 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008. This report and the first one covering the previous year can be found at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/policy/publicsectorfood/awareness.htm
	The report gives details of the proportion of individual meat, fruit and vegetable categories purchased.
	Although it is too early to show a trend, the report indicates that the amount of domestically produced food consumed by Government Departments in England is increasing. The proportion of domestically produced food procured by Communities has gone up from 59 per cent. in 2006-07 to 65 per cent. in 2007-08. We expect to publish a third report at the end of 2009.

Christmas

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much  (a) his Department,  (b) the Homes and Communities Agency,  (c) the Homes and Communities Agency Academy and  (d) the Tenant Services Authority expects to spend on Christmas parties in 2009.

Barbara Follett: In relation to Christmas parties, the Department has interpreted this to mean internal, departmental Christmas parties. On this basis, the  (a) Department can confirm that no official funds are planned to be spent on Christmas parties in 2009.
	The Homes and Communities Agency  (b), the Homes and Communities Agency Academy  (c) and the Tenant Services Authority  (d) can also confirm that there are no plans to spend official funds on Christmas parties.

Climate Change: Conferences

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) Ministers and  (b) civil servants from his Department will be attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in an official capacity.

John Healey: None.

Departmental Conferences

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what  (a) drinks receptions,  (b) seminars and  (c) conferences have been hosted by (i) his Department, (ii) the Tenants Services Authority, (iii) the Homes and Communities Agency and (iv) the Homes and Communities Agency Academy in each of the last 12 months.

Barbara Follett: The Department does not hold this information centrally and it could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Information in respect of the Tenant Services Agency, the Homes and Communities Agency and the Homes and Communities Agency Academy has been deposited in the Library of the House.

Departmental Consultants

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what  (a) bonuses and  (b) incentives have been paid to (i) consultants and (ii) contractors engaged by his Department in each of the last three years.

Barbara Follett: The Department has not paid any  (a) bonuses and  (b) incentives to (i) consultants and (ii) contractors in the last three years.

Departmental Consultants

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what  (a) bonuses and  (b) incentives have been paid to (i) consultants and (ii) contractors engaged by executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible in each of the last three years.

Barbara Follett: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Disclosure of Information

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many allegations of victimisation for whistleblowing have been made to his Department by its staff since 6 June 2006.

Barbara Follett: There have been no allegations of victimisation for whistleblowing made to the Department for Communities and Local Government since 6 June 2006.

Departmental Official Cars

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of providing official cars for the use of  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in the last 12 months.

Barbara Follett: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 22 October 2009,  Official Report, column 1642W, to the hon. Member for Putney (Justine Greening).
	Figures could be broken down by  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Official Visits

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what date he last travelled by train in the course of his official duties.

Barbara Follett: Friday, 20 November 2009.

Departmental Recycling

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what weight of paper his Department has recycled in each of the last five years.

Barbara Follett: The weight of paper recycled by the Department for Communities and Local Government in the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			   Paper  r ecycling( 1)  (tonnes) 
			 2004-05 Not known 
			 2005-06 132 
			 2006-07 127 
			 2007-08 263 
			 2008-09 254 
			 (1 )The data includes cardboard as this is often mixed with paper for recycling

Departmental Travel

Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what contracts his Department has with private hire taxi companies; and what expenditure his Department has incurred against each such contract in each of the last three years.

Barbara Follett: The Department has spent the following amounts through formal and informal contracts with taxi companies over the last three fiscal years.
	
		
			£ 
			  2006 A1 Taxi Safe 1,333 
			  Balmoral Transport Services Ltd. 8,516 
			  Dial a Cab 15,700 
			  Radio Taxis 5,997 
			  Taxifast 1,210 
			 Total  32,757 
			
			  2007 A1 Taxi Safe 833 
			  Balmoral Transport Services Ltd. 2,755 
			  Dial a Cab 4,885 
			  Knight and Day Taxis Com 156 
			  Radio Taxis 2,730 
			  Taxifast 202 
			 Total  11,560 
			
			  2008 A1 Taxi Safe 144 
			  Balmoral Transport Services Ltd. 8,417 
			  Crownhill Taxi Services Ltd. 490 
			  Dial a Cab 2,793 
			  Radio Taxis 59 
			 Total  11,903 
		
	
	Staff will also pay taxi fares themselves in the course of official business and claim the costs back through the TS system, figures from this show the following expenditure over the last three years:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2006-07 121,588 
			 2007-08 111,056 
			 2008-09 55,736

Food: Procurement

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the proportion of  (a) lamb,  (b) beef,  (c) chicken,  (d) pork,  (e) turkey,  (f) other meats,  (g) vegetables and  (h) fruit procured by his Department that was produced in the UK in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: A second report on the proportion of domestically produced food used by Government Departments and also supplied to hospitals and prisons under contracts negotiated by NHS Supply Chain and HM Prison Service was published in November 2008, covering the year from 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008. This report and the first one covering the previous year can be found at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/policy/publicsectorfood/awareness.htm
	The report gives details of the proportion of individual meat, fruit and vegetable categories purchased.
	Although it is too early to show a trend, the report indicates that the amount of domestically produced food consumed by Government Departments in England is increasing. The proportion of domestically produced food procured by Communities has gone up from 59 per cent. in 2006-07 to 65 per cent. in 2007-08. We expect to publish a third report at the end of 2009.

Homes and Communities Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what  (a) shareholdings and  (b) subsidiaries the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) owns; what the purpose of ownership of each stake is; what the HCA's shareholding represents as a percentage of the overall shares; and what recent estimate he has made of the monetary value of each stake.

John Healey: A list of the Homes and Communities Agency's associates and subsidiaries and its proportionate shareholding is disclosed in its Financial Statements for 2008-09, as laid in the House (pages 81 and 82).
	The main reasons for holding these investments is to further the business of the agency in pursuit of its strategic objectives.
	The carrying values of the agency's investments in the Financial Statements are assessed each year. This assessment is scrutinised by the National Audit Office as part of their annual audit work.

Homes and Communities Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor spent on  (a) Places of Change,  (b) the Thames Gateway and  (c) growth funding in each of the last three years.

John Healey: Information on spending on Places of Change, the Thames Gateway and growth was published in the Homes and Communities Agency's Annual Report and Financial Statement for 2008-09, and in the financial statements of its predecessor bodies: the Housing Corporation, English Partnerships and the Department for Communities and Local Government for preceding years, as lodged in the House Library.

Homes and Communities Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has spent on staff costs related to the HCA Academy.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the Homes and Communities Agency's 2008-9 Annual Report which includes information about the HCA Academy's staff costs.
	A copy of the Annual report and Accounts can be found in the Library of the House. They can also be found at the following web link.
	http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/public/documents/annual-report-2009.pdf

Homes and Communities Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 5 November 2009,  Official Report, column 1124W, on the Homes and Communities Agency: consultants, how much the Homes and Communities Academy spent on  (a) the National and Regional Delivery Structure project,  (b) the Brownfield Skills project,  (c) the Endorsement Framework project,  (d) the Benchmark and Toolkit project,  (e) the Practical Knowledge to Support delivery project and  (f) the programme staff costs project; and how much of each sum was spent on consultancy costs.

John Healey: The HCA Academy's project and consultancy spend on the projects listed above are as follows:
	
		
			  £000 
			  Workstream  Total spend  Consultancy spend 
			 National and Regional Delivery Structure 30 30 
			 Brownfield Skills 21 20 
			 Endorsement Framework 46 46 
			 Benchmark and Tool Kit 113 98 
			 Practical knowledge to support delivery 127 100 
			 Programme staff costs 261 0 
		
	
	The spend on programme staff costs include staff salaries, expenses and costs for staff seconded in from other organisations.

Homes and Communities Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what role the Homes and Communities Agency has had in the delivery of  (a) the Mortgage Rescue scheme and  (b) the National Clearing House.

John Healey: Since the Mortgage Rescue scheme's inception, the HCA has worked with the Government to ensure support is available for the most vulnerable households to avoid repossession and remain in their home by taking a lead role in working with and monitoring the performance of those RSLs delivering the scheme.
	In May 2008, the Government announced a plan to take advantage of market opportunities to bring private sector developer stock into the affordable housing sector by earmarking £200 million of funding through the Housing Corporation (the Homes and Communities Agency's predecessor) National Affordable Housing programme (NAHP) budget for the purchase of homes from house builders.
	To help facilitate the scheme, the Corporation set up the National Clearing House to streamline initial assessment of national packages of at least 250 units from private sector house builders. The Housing Corporation's Investment partners, mainly Registered Social Landlords, wishing to buy smaller numbers of units from developers could bid for funding directly to the Corporation in the normal way.

Homes and Communities Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what target was set for the Homes and Communities Agency in relation to private sector investment in its property and regeneration programme in 2008-09; and what such target has been set for 2009-10.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the 2009-2011 Homes and Communities Agency Corporate plan, which is available at:
	http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/publications

Homes and Communities Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Homes and Communities Agency has spent  (a) in total and  (b) on each housing association (i) shared ownership product and (ii) try before you buy home scheme in the latest year for which figures are available.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Member for Derby South on 21 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1540-42W.
	Allocations by housing associations are published on the Homes and Communities Agency website. Details of historic allocations can be found on the Housing Corporation website.

Homes and Communities Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average per household entitlement to the proceeds of future sales of properties owned by the Homes and Communities Agency is under each HomeBuy scheme.

John Healey: The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) does not own any of the current HomeBuy properties, but holds a second charge on HomeBuy Direct and First Time Buyers Initiative properties. No estimate is made as to the average entitlement per household for these as actual entitlement to proceeds of future sales is dependent on when the properties are sold and the price achieved at the point of sale. The HCA and developer/provider of the properties are entitled to a share of sales proceeds in proportion to the percentage of equity loan provided while the household is entitled to the remainder.

Homes and Communities Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for how much the Homes and Communities Agency's land at the Gateway site in Harlow was  (a) purchased and  (b) sold.

John Healey: The Harlow Gateway housing site was not purchased by the Homes and Communities Agency, as the freehold was transferred to the agency from a predecessor body. The HCA secured a receipt of £33.5 million for the land.

Homes and Communities Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Homes and Communities Agency has spent under each budget category in exhibiting a show garden at the Chelsea Flower Show.

John Healey: The Homes and Communities Agency provided £150,000 capital funding under the Places of Change programme towards the 'Key Garden' at the Chelsea Flower Show 2009. The garden was developed by over 200 homeless people from 25 homelessness services and prisons nationwide, in partnership with the Eden Project.

Homes and Communities Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the monetary value of the entitlements of the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor to future sale proceeds resulting from the sale of homes under  (a) HomeBuy Direct,  (b) OwnHome,  (c) Open Market HomeBuy,  (d) MyChoice HomeBuy,  (e) New Build HomeBuy and  (f) Social HomeBuy in each of the last three years.

John Healey: The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) is entitled to a share of sales proceeds when homes bought through HomeBuy Direct are sold by the purchaser. The scheme became operational in February 2009. No estimate has been made of the monetary value of the HCA's entitlements to future sales proceeds as it is dependent on when full or partial redemption of the equity loans are made and what the value of the loans are at the point of redemption.
	Grant invested in OwnHome, MyChoice HomeBuy (Open Market HomeBuy products), New Build HomeBuy and Social HomeBuy properties, through registered social landlords (who own the properties) is credited to the Recycled Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) for provision of new social lets or other low cost homes when the properties are sold whole or through shared ownership terms.

Homes and Communities Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many private finance initiative credits the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor allocated in each of the last three years.

John Healey: It is convention to record PFI credits in the financial year in which contracts are signed. Since the creation of the Homes and Communities Agency, PFI credits for housing projects have continued to be issued by this Department.
	Housing PFI credits issued in each of the last financial years have been:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2009-10 (to date) 0 
			 2008-09 137.9 
			 2007-08 283.4

Homes and Communities Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Homes and Communities Agency secured in private sector contributions to its property and regeneration programme in 2008-09.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the Homes and Communities Agency's 2008-09 Annual Report and Accounts, which are available at:
	http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/publications

Homes and Communities Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what target was set for the Homes and Communities Agency in respect of low cost homes ownership starts in 2008-09; and what target has been set for 2009-10.

John Healey: Details of the targets for low cost home ownership starts in 2008-09 are set out in the Housing Corporation Annual Report and Accounts 2008-09, and the target for 2009-10 is set out in the Homes and Communities Agency Corporate Plan 2009-10- 2010-11, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

Homes and Communities Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what dates the Homes and Communities Agency Rural Housing Group has met since 1 December 2008; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of each meeting.

John Healey: Since 1 December 2008, the Homes and Communities Agency Rural Housing Advisory Group have met on 30 January, 13 May and 11 September 2009. The minutes of the meetings are available on the Homes and Communities website at:
	http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/the-rural-housing-advisory-group

Homes and Communities Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Homes and Communities Agency has spent on the Future Communities website; and how many  (a) unique visitors and  (b) page impressions have been recorded by the site since its creation.

John Healey: The Homes and Communities Agency has spent nothing on the Future Communities Website which is run by the Young Foundation. The Department does not hold information relating to parts  (a) and  (b) of this question.

Homes and Communities Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many sites listed as  (a) Grade I and  (b) Grade II the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor have redeveloped in each of the last three years; and how many homes have been built on such sites.

John Healey: The process of listing does not apply to sites.

Homes and Communities Agency: Manpower

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff the Homes and Communities Agency has had on secondment since its establishment; from which organisations the employees were seconded; and what the cost of each secondment has been.

John Healey: There are approximately 50 secondees currently working in the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), most of them from Communities and Local Government. The overall cost of HCA posts filled by secondees rather than direct HCA employees since 1 December 2008 is approximately £2.3 million. Information on the cost of each secondment is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Homes and Communities Agency: Marketing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the  (a) Homes and Communities Agency and  (b) Tenant Services Authority has spent on signage since each was established.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 2 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1501-02W by my right hon. Friend the Member for Derby South (Margaret Beckett). Since then the Homes and Communities Agency has spent an additional £34,000 and the TSA an additional £200 on signage.

Tenant Services Authority

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which of his Department's  (a) strategic objectives and  (b) public service agreement targets require action from (i) the Tenant Services Authority and (ii) the Homes and Communities Agency.

John Healey: The work of the Tenant Services Authority (TSA) contributes to the following public service agreements (PSAs):
	PSA20: Increase long term housing supply and affordability
	PSA21: Build more cohesive, empowered and active communities
	PSA23: Make communities safer.
	The TSA's work also contributes to three of Communities and Local Government's (CLG) six departmental strategic objectives (DSOs):
	DSO2: To improve the supply, environmental performance and quality of housing that is more responsive to the needs of individuals, communities and the economy.
	DSO3: To build prosperous communities by improving the economic performance of cities, sub-regions and local areas, promoting regeneration and tackling deprivation.
	DSO4: To develop communities that are cohesive, active and resilient to extremism.
	The Homes and Communities Agency's corporate plan for 2009-10 to 2010-11 explains how it contributes to the Government's PSAs and CLG's DSOs. The corporate plan is available via the HCA's website:
	http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Bankruptcy: Hampshire

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many bankruptcies there have been in  (a) the ceremonial county of Hampshire,  (b) Southampton and  (c) the Test Valley of individuals in each age group in (i) 2008 and (ii) 2009 to date.

Ian Lucas: The available information for bankruptcies in Hampshire, Southampton and Test Valley, in 2008 by age group, can be seen in Table 1. Information for 2009 is not currently available, as regional insolvency statistics are only compiled on an annual basis.
	
		
			  Table 1: Bankruptcies by age - 2008( 1) 
			   Age Group 
			  Area  Under 25  25-34  35-44  45-54  55-64  65 and Over  Unknown 
			 Hampshire 58 329 455 294 148 40 81 
			 Southampton 20 104 116 67 31 12 22 
			 Test Valley 33 198 227 144 81 15 21 
			 (1) Where the bankrupt has provided a valid postcode (96.9 per cent. of cases in 2008).

Climate Change

Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many  (a) Ministers and  (b) civil servants from his Department will be attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in an official capacity.

Ian Lucas: At present, no Ministers and one official from the Department has been confirmed as attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in an official capacity.

Furs: Imports

Colin Breed: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the value was in sterling of fur pelts imported into the UK from China in each year since 1999.

Ian Lucas: The data in the following table show the value of imports from China recorded in the Overseas Trade Statistics for raw, tanned or dressed furskins (Harmonized System codes 4301 and 4302):
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Lamb and sheep  Other  Total 
			 1999 0.4 1.6 2.0 
			 2000 0.7 3.2 3.9 
			 2001 0.4 2.4 2.8 
			 2002 1.2 1.7 2.9 
			 2003 1.1 1.2 2.3 
			 2004 0.8 1.8 2.6 
			 2005 0.5 2.3 2.9 
			 2006 1.0 2.6 3.6 
			 2007 2.9 1.4 4.3 
			 2008 2.0 1.2 3.2

Insolvency: Fees and Charges

Michael Weir: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department plans to set a cap on the fees charged by insolvency practitioners.

Ian Lucas: I have no plans to set a cap on the fees charged by insolvency practitioners, which are properly a matter for the creditors or the court.
	However, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) confirmed on 12 November that they are to undertake a market study into the corporate insolvency market which may include analysis of the level of fees charged by insolvency practitioners as insolvency office-holders.
	The Government believe that it is particularly important at this point in the downturn that creditors and employees who lose their jobs through insolvency have confidence that the fees charged by insolvency practitioners represent good value for the very important work they do and I look forward with interest to the outcome of the study announced by the Office of Fair Trading.

Students: Finance

Annette Brooke: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what his most recent estimate is of the number of applications for finance made to Student Finance England which are awaiting decision; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The Student Loans Company has released figures to show the levels of processing and payment of Student Support in England for the 2009/10 academic year. The information is available on the Student Loans Company website and includes information, under application status, on applications currently being processed and further information required from student/sponsors.

Students: Finance

Annette Brooke: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the average time taken to process applications for finance made to Student Finance England for the 2009-10 academic year; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: I am informed by the SLC that, for those Student Finance England applications for both new students and those returning to University which had been approved by 1 November 2009, the average number of days from the date the applications were submitted to the date they were approved was 31 days.

Students: Finance

Annette Brooke: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent representations he has received on the length of time for which Student Finance England has retained the passports of applicants for funding; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: I have received two representations from applicants of Student Finance England complaining that passports had not yet been returned. Both were advised on the reasons for the delay and have now had their passports returned.

Students: Loans

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the merits of increasing the salary threshold at which people are required to make payments towards their student loans.

David Lammy: The repayment threshold is currently £15,000. The threshold is agreed between my Department and the Devolved Administrations. Early this year, the decision to raise the threshold from April 2010 by inflation was cancelled because the relevant RPI rate was negative, meaning the threshold would have been reduced and borrowers would have had to pay more. Instead the threshold was frozen at £15,000 for a further 12 months. We will be considering the threshold for April 2011 early in the new year.

Telephone Services

Mark Hunter: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent estimate Ofcom has made of the average waiting time before speaking to a person when calling telephone numbers with  (a) 0844,  (b) 0845,  (c) 0870 and  (d) 0871 prefixes; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The matter raised is the responsibility of the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which is accountable to Parliament rather than Ministers. Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of Ofcom to reply directly to the hon. Member. Copies of the chief executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Telephone Services

Mark Hunter: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent estimate Ofcom has made of profit made by operators of lines with numbers with  (a) 0844,  (b) 0845,  (c) 0870 and  (d) 0871 prefixes in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The matter raised is the responsibility of the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which is accountable to Parliament rather than Ministers. Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of Ofcom to reply directly to the hon. Member. Copies of the chief executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Unemployment: Young People

James Clappison: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and what proportion of people aged between 16 and 24 years were not in education, employment and training in  (a) each year since 1992 and  (b) the latest quarter for which figures are available.

Kevin Brennan: Table 1 shows the number and percentage of people aged 16 to 24(1) in England who are not in employment, education or training in quarter four of each year since 2000. Due to incomplete data, estimates are not available prior to 2000.
	These estimates are from the Labour Force Survey and will include pregnant mothers, those caring for children or relatives, people with a disability or suffering from ill health, and those waiting for a course or job to start, including those on a gap year.
	(1 )Age is based on academic age, which is defined as the age of the respondent at the preceding 31 August
	
		
			  Table 1: Number and percentage of 16 to 24 years-olds not in employment, education or training 
			   Number  Percentage (of all 16 to 24 years) 
			 2000 629,000 12.3 
			 2001 664,000 12.6 
			 2002 659,000 12.2 
			 2003 667,000 12.1 
			 2004 744,000 13.2 
			 2005 837,000 14.6 
			 2006 808,000 13.8 
			 2007 782,000 13.1 
			 2008 857,000 14.2 
		
	
	In the latest quarter available, Q3 2009, there were 1,082,000 (18 per cent.) people aged 16 to 24 not in employment, education and training compared with 973,000 in Quarter 3 of 2008. It must be noted that a direct comparison between consecutive quarters cannot be made as quarterly NEET estimates from the LFS display a strong seasonal pattern.
	Estimates for quarter three are always considerably higher than in quarter 4 because of the number of young people who are either between courses or who have recently left education.
	Estimates for every quarter since 2005 have been produced by the Department for Children Schools and Families and are available here: NEET quarterly brief

WORK AND PENSIONS

Jobcentres: Domestic Visits

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what jobcentres she has visited since her appointment.

Jim Knight: holding answer 23 November 2009
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State visited St. Marylebone Jobcentre (part of Central London District) on 8 June, Leith Jobcentre (part of Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders District) on 1 July, Westminster Jobcentre (part of central London District) on 21 October and Chelmsford Jobcentre (part of Essex District) on 16 November.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Rail Travel

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date he last travelled by train in the course of his official duties.

Shaun Woodward: 12 November 2009.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Carbon Emissions: Buildings

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what financial assistance his Department makes available to low-carbon building projects to help to improve their energy efficiency in  (a) Milton Keynes and  (b) England.

Joan Ruddock: Through Budget 2009, Government made available £25 million for community heating infrastructure in the UK. Of this, £20.96 million was made available for schemes in England (and is being administered by the Homes and Communities Agency on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government). Through this fund we have allocated £1.5 million to provide Milton Keynes with a new biomethane plant which, along with the city's planned anaerobic digestion plant, will power households with green energy by injecting biomethane gas into the regional gas network.
	Support for low carbon building projects is also provided through the work of the Research Councils and the Technology Strategy Board, funded by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills. The Technology Strategy Board has a significant programme of work relevant to this area under its Low Impact Buildings Innovation Platform.
	In addition, my Department's policies also provide significant funding to support the retrofit of energy efficiency measures in existing homes, through programmes such as the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (£3.2 billion over 2008-11), Warm Front (£950 million over 2008-11), and the Community Energy Saving Programme (£350 million over 2009-12). In the Low Carbon Transition Plan we committed to continuing the CERT programme for at least a further 21 months potentially driving a further £1.9 billion of investment before the end of 2012.

Christmas

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many Christmas parties his Department plans to host in 2009; what has been budgeted for each such reception; what estimate he has made of the proportion of  (a) lamb,  (b) beef,  (c) chicken,  (d) pork,  (e) turkey,  (f) other meats,  (g) vegetables,  (h) fruit and  (i) alcohol to be served at each such function which is produced in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: The Department of Energy and Climate Change is not planning to host any Christmas parties in 2009.

Community Energy Savings Programme

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department plans to spend on the Community Energy Savings Programme in  (a) 2009-10,  (b) 2010-11,  (c) 2011-12,  (d) 2012-13 and  (e) 2013-14; and what estimate he has made of the (i) proportion of such expenditure to be incurred in England, (ii) the carbon savings to be achieved, (iii) the number of properties affected and (iv) the number of jobs created from such expenditure in each year.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 23 November 2009
	The Community Energy Savings Programme (CESP) is funded by an obligation on energy suppliers and generators. They are expected to install around £350 million worth of energy efficiency measures across GB in the CESP obligation period, from 1 September 2009 to December 2012. DECC does not fund the programme.
	There are around 4,500 eligible CESP areas across GB, 3248 are in England. Within this constraint energy companies, working with local authorities and community groups, are free to choose where they deliver CESP. The programme is expected to deliver up to 100 projects across GB, benefiting c90,000 households and saving 2.9mtCO2 over the lifetime of the programme.
	Given CESP's focus on delivering energy efficiency measures to hundreds of households in each particular area targeted we expect this to create business and employment opportunities. For example, the energy companies are currently assessing their options for delivering CESP including in the first instance recruiting staff where necessary and reviewing their supply chains to deliver the significant number of energy efficiency measures expected under CESP.

Departmental Assets

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assets of his Department are planned to be sold in each year from 2009-10 to 2013-14; what the  (a) description and  (b) book value of each such asset is; what the expected revenue from each such sale is; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: There are no current plans to sell any of the assets of the Department of Energy and Climate Change in any of the years from 2009-10 to 2013-14.

Departmental Food

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the proportion of  (a) lamb, (b) beef,  (c) chicken,  (d) pork,  (e) turkey,  (f) other meats,  (g) vegetables and  (h) fruit procured by his Department that was produced in the UK in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: A second report on the proportion of domestically produced food used by Government Departments and also supplied to hospitals and prisons under contracts negotiated by NHS Supply Chain and HM Prison Service was published in November 2008, covering the year from 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008. This report and the first one covering the previous year can be found at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/policy/publicsectorfood/awareness.htm
	The report gives details of the proportion of individual meat, fruit and vegetable categories purchased.
	DECC was established after the information in this report was collated, therefore the percentage of meat, fruit and vegetables procured domestically within the estate currently occupied by DECC is included within the information provided on the attached report under DEFRA.
	A third report is expected to be published shortly.

Departmental Pay

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what  (a) bonuses and  (b) incentives have been paid to (i) consultants and (ii) contractors engaged by his Department in each of the last three years.

Joan Ruddock: The information is as follows:
	 (a) Bonuses to consultants or contractors are not paid by the Department of Energy and Climate Change. Contracts are let for a service at the market rate determined by competition.
	 (b) Incentives are not paid to consultants or contractors. Suppliers can benefit from early payment and shared reduction of cost. Incentives are used without a cost to the Department when milestones are included into contracts, allowing early payment to the supplier as they are paid on completion of milestones. This is an incentive to the supplier to finish the work on schedule. The Department also seeks innovative solutions from suppliers wherever possible. In some contracts this may allow a reduction of costs that can be shared between both the Department and the supplier.

Departmental Rail Travel

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on what date he last travelled by train in the course of his official duties.

Joan Ruddock: 23 November 2009.

Energy: Mobile Homes

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department has taken steps to help park home residents reduce their  (a) carbon dioxide emissions and  (b) heating bills.

Joan Ruddock: It is difficult to reduce the carbon emissions and heating bills of park homes due to the lack of scope for key energy efficiency measures, such as cavity wall and loft insulation. Where scope does exist, such as through draught-proofing and high-efficiency lights and appliances, assistance is available to park homes residents through schemes such as the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target and Warm Front.
	Warm Front is currently working in partnership with a gas distributor and a local residents association to enable 61 residents of Elm Tree caravan park in Hartlepool to be connected to the mains gas network. This project meant these homes, previously utilising liquid petroleum gas, coal or forms of electric heating, reduced their likely energy bills and likely carbon consumption. The project considerably reduced the otherwise prohibitive cost that had prevented each park home individually connecting to the gas network.
	The Warm Front Scheme has also begun a piloting exercise of external wall insulation for 100 park home properties. If this trial is successful, then this may be included as a main measure offered through the scheme.
	Free expert advice on practical ways to save energy in the home is also available through the ACT ON CO2 advice line.

Housing: Insulation

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of homes which would benefit from insulation.

Joan Ruddock: Almost all homes can benefit from further insulation, whether this is through taking relatively simple actions such as topping up levels of loft insulation and filling un-insulated cavity wall, or though more difficult or expensive steps such as insulating floors, installing high efficiency glazing or fitting solid wall insulation.
	We have made good progress insulating lofts and cavity walls with five million homes insulated between 2002 and 2008 and a commitment to insulate a further six million homes by 2011. The Heat and Energy Saving Strategy (HESS) consultation published in February sets out our ambitions to insulate all of the remaining lofts and cavities where practical by 2015. The HESS also explains the approaches we are considering to make it easier for households to take on more difficult or expensive forms of insulation and thus gain the benefits of reduced energy bills and a warmer home.

Housing: Insulation

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of domestic dwellings to have been insulated in each year since 1997.

Joan Ruddock: For the period between 1997 and 2001 on average around 250,000 homes were insulated per year (loft and cavity wall insulation).
	From 2002, with the introduction of the Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) figures rose. For the first period-EEC1 which ran from April 2002 to March 2005 around 1.9 million homes were insulated (roof, cavity and solid wall insulation). For EEC2, which run until April 2008, around 3.3 million homes were insulated.
	In 2008 my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made the commitment to insulate a further six million homes by 2011 and the Government are on track to deliver this target. In April 2008, the Carbon Emission Reduction Target (CERT) replaced EEC with a new more ambitious target. In the year following April 2008 around 1.5 million homes were insulated by CERT and other programmes. In addition, as set out in the Low Carbon Transition Plan, the Government have committed to extend CERT to the end of 2012 with an even stronger focus on delivering insulation.

Renewable Energy

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will estimate the amount of black carbon which would be emitted consequent upon achieving biomass targets as set out in his Department's renewable energy strategy.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 23 November 2009
	Specific estimates of black carbon emission have not been made in support of the development of the Renewable Energy Strategy.
	The emissions of black carbon for each unit of heat delivered are likely to decrease in future as a result of measures announced in the Government's Renewable Energy Strategy. Efficient modern biomass appliances have advanced combustion control systems. When maintained adequately and fuelled correctly, the particles emitted under normal operating conditions are primarily composed of the inorganic salts naturally present in the wood, not carbonaceous material.

Renewable Energy

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much has been spent on the renewable energy sector in each of the last five years; what the purpose is of the £18 million additional funding for the UK clean energy sector available via the Carbon Trust; and how many green start-up renewable energy companies  (a) have had and  (b) will receive such funding from the Carbon Trust.

Joan Ruddock: According to recent research published by the Carbon Trust building on research by New Energy Finance, total UK venture capital clean energy(1) investment (including renewables) between 2003 and 2008 was:
	(1) We do not hold independent data for overall renewable technology investment separate from clean energy.
	
		
			   € million 
			 2003 131 
			 2004 123 
			 2005 182 
			 2006 167 
			 2007 269 
			 2008 83 
		
	
	The purpose of the up to £18 million additional venture capital investment available via the Carbon Trust is to meet the current market failure in the provision of private sector venture capital investment for early stage low carbon companies.
	Since the Carbon Trust was set up, it has provided funding to 17 green start-up energy companies investing over £13.5m. This funding has also helped these businesses to leverage over £117 million of private sector investment.
	No investments have yet been made from the £18 million additional funding but four companies are in due diligence and a further 10 are under active consideration.

Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress the Government have made on meeting the targets stipulated in the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000 during  (a) 2008 and  (b) 2009; and if he will make a statement.

David Kidney: The Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000 required the publication of a strategy to include
	a target date for achieving the objective of ensuring that as far as reasonably practicable persons in England or Wales do not live in fuel poverty.
	Annual reports on progress are published and copies are placed in the House Library. Web links to the 2008 and 2009 Annual Progress reports are at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/consumers/fuel_poverty/strategy/annual_report/annual_report.aspx

JUSTICE

Climate Change

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) Ministers and  (b) civil servants from his Department will be attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in an official capacity.

Michael Wills: There are no Ministers or civil servants from the Ministry of Justice who will be attending the United Nations climate change conference in Copenhagen in an official capacity.

Drugs: Crime

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been found guilty of offences of drug  (a) possession and  (b) dealing in Avon and Somerset in each year since 1997.

Claire Ward: Information showing the number of persons found guilty at all courts for drug possession and dealing in the Avon and Somerset police force area from 1997 to 2007 (latest available) is shown in the following table.
	Data for 2008 are planned for publication on 28 January 2010.
	
		
			  Number of persons found guilty at all courts for the possession and dealing of drugs in the Avon and Somerset police force area, 1997 to 2007( 1, 2) 
			  Offence  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Having possession of a controlled drug 381 422 541 581 523 502 504 420 375 422 574 
			 Having possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply 75 99 86 89 101 110 124 115 116 120 150 
			 Supplying or offering to supply a controlled drug 83 85 9 2 83 38 45 74 64 58 36 58 
			 (1) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

European Convention on Human Rights

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether there has been a proportionate alleviation or suspension of a specific right provided for in the European Convention on Human Rights since the Convention was ratified by the Government.

Michael Wills: The majority of the rights protected by the European Convention on Human Rights are not absolute. Most rights are qualified, which means that interference with a right is permitted where that is in accordance with the law, proportionate to a certain specified aim, and/or necessary to protect the rights and freedoms of others. For example, it is sometimes necessary to balance the right of the media to freedom of expression with the right of individuals to respect for their private life. Many areas of Government policy involve making these difficult decisions on a daily basis and it is not possible to list them exhaustively. It is also possible for states party to make reservations to some rights or to derogate from some articles of the convention in times of emergency. However, the UK currently has no derogations to the convention.

Offenders: Drugs and Mentally Ill

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what recent estimate he has made of the  (a) number and  (b) proportion of (i) offences and (ii) reoffences which are committed each year by those with substance misuse problems;
	(2)  what recent estimate he has made of the  (a) number and  (b) proportion of (i) offences and (ii) reoffences which are committed each year by those with mental health problems.

Claire Ward: The requested information is not available. The Ministry of Justice's extract of data from the police national computer can provide information on the previous convictions and reoffences of offenders. However, the database does not identify offenders with substance misuse problems or those with mental health problems.

Office for Criminal Justice Reform: Finance

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the budget of the Office for Criminal Justice Reform was in each year since it was created; and what its budget is expected to be in each of the next five years.

Claire Ward: The annual budget for the Office for Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR) for the last five years was provided in an answer to the hon. Member for Harborough (Mr. Garnier) on 30 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 999 and 1000W.
	OCJR's budget for 2009-10 is £129.1 million resource and £20.5 million capital. The budget for 2010-11 has yet to be finalised and budgets from 2011-12 will be determined in the next spending review.

Prisoner's Release

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will publish the results of his Department's investigation into the release of a prisoner on remand by mistake from HM Prison Chelmsford on 16 October 2009.

Maria Eagle: I understand that the hon. Member is referring to the release of a prisoner on 16 November 2009.
	It is not Ministry of Justice policy for the contents of investigations to be made public however, I will write to the hon. Member with a summary of the findings, when they are received.

Young People: Crime Prevention

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which youth offending teams were assessed as requiring significant improvement at their most recent inspections.

Maria Eagle: This year HMI Probation introduced a new core case inspection regime for youth offending teams (YOTs) looking at three specific areas of practice-safeguarding, risk of harm to others and risk of reoffending. To date only the inspection reports of North West YOTs have been published. Of the 21 YOTs in the North West 12 were assessed as requiring significant improvement in at least one area of practice. Three YOTs were assessed as requiring substantial improvement in a single area of the inspected work: Cumbria, Manchester and Stockport. The following were assessed as requiring substantial improvement in two or more of the areas inspected: Bolton, Bury, Lancashire, Liverpool, Rochdale, Salford, Tameside and Wirral. In addition Sefton YOT was assessed as requiring drastic improvement in two of the three areas and substantial improvement in the other.
	The assessment of YOT performance does not rest soley with the HMI Probation core case inspection. It has been designed to include two distinct but complementary processes which together give a complete picture of the performance of a YOT Partnership. The HMIP Inspection regime looks in depth at practice whilst the YJB YOT assessment is at a strategic level and looks additionally at: reducing re-offending; first time entrants; engagement in education, training and employment; access to suitable accommodation; public and victim confidence and reducing numbers in custody. The most recent YJB quarterly assessment of YOT performance was completed in July. The results for the 139 English YOTs show that 79 per cent. of YOTs were classified as either good or outstanding.

Young People: Finance

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much funding has been received by each youth offending team in each of the last three years; how much such funding each such team will receive in the next three years; and what formula is used to calculate allocations to such teams.

Maria Eagle: Youth offending teams (YOTs) receive funding from a number of sources. The table shows financial contributions made to YOTs via the Youth Justice Board and other Government sources (including police, probation, social services and via local authorities) by financial year:
	The Youth Justice Board funding is divided between Wales and England in the ratio 5 to 85. The YJB grant funding for England is allocated to individual YOTs according to the prescribed formula, in which 40 per cent. weighting is given to the local 10-17 population, 10 per cent. to the geographical size of the area, and 50 per cent. in aggregate to 'Deprivation Indices'-Local Concentration, Extent (the proportion of a YOT's population living in the wards which rank within the most deprived 10 per cent. of wards in the country), income deprivement, employment deprivement, average of ward ranks, average of ward scores.
	These indices are compiled by Communities and Local Government and full details are available on their website at;
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/communities/pdr7131206.pdf
	The YJB grant funding for YOTs in Wales is allocated on the same basis with slight variations on the main formula.
	Additional Government funds, as reported to the YJB by YOTs, are allocated at individual local area level and the YJB has no information on how these funds are allocated
	The full set of data returns from youth offending teams are yet to be submitted for 2009-10, therefore figures cannot be made available at this time. Final allocations for 2010-11 and 2011-12 will be allocated at the beginning of the respective financial year. Allocations will use the current formula outlined above.
	The data contained in this answer are supplied by the YJB and comprise data supplied from youth offending teams in England and Wales via monthly or quarterly returns to the YJB. As with any large scale recording system, the data are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and may be subject to change over time.
	
		
			  £ 
			   Total  YJB  Additional government funding 
			  YOT  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2006-07( 1)  2007-08( 1)  2008-09 
			 Barking and Dagenham 1,864,512 2,034,248 2,416,377 629,995 711,731 728,377 1,234,517 1,322,517 1,688,000 
			 Barnet 902,614 999,654 1,072,586 310,030 351,198 451,516 592,584 648,456 621,070 
			 Barnsley 1,478,699 1,574,873 1,932,637 506,854 573,943 787,447 971,845 1,000,930 1,145,190 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 639,714 662,964 821,763 196,013 234,639 278,827 443,701 428,325 542,936 
			 Bedfordshire 2,058,635 2,259,193 2,293,606 531,546 566,479 607,350 1,527,089 1,692,714 1,686,256 
			 Bexley 887,371 921,885 992,142 246,321 286,493 314,607 641,050 635,392 677,535 
			 Birmingham 9,224,489 9,485,873 10,034,391 3,131,725 3,281,517 3,755,001 6,092,764 6,204,356 6,279,390 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 1,859,352 1,630,567 1,976,656 610,331 634,407 835,571 1,249,021 996,160 1,141,085 
			 Blackpool 1,427,385 1,429,786 1,565,250 484,812 543,875 623,187 942,573 885,910 942,063 
			 Blaenau, Gwent and Caerphilly 1,916,543 2,040,336 2,349,211 887,336 982,156 1,083,093 1,029,207 1,058,180 1,266,118 
			 Bolton 1,461,625 1,482,333 1,575,845 646,419 723,260 816,360 815,206 759,073 759,485 
			 Bournemouth and Poole 1,251,397 1,181,506 1,244,565 470,265 361,444 410,463 781,132 820,062 834,102 
			 Bracknell Forest 587,378 645,199 682,184 129,120 150,659 166,925 458,258 494,540 515,259 
			 Bradford 3,442,491 3,440,127 3,991,440 1,526,268 1,659,138 1,915,964 1,916,223 1,780,989 2,075,476 
			 Brent 1,531,258 1,920,952 1,858,132 496,174 818,674 870,683 1,035,084 1,102,278 987,449 
			 Bridgend 781,237 824,548 906,124 205,659 215,963 220,738 575,578 608,585 685,386 
			 Brighton and Hove 1,092,925 1,258,661 1,372,910 238,768 291,463 412,198 854,157 967,198 960,712 
			 Bristol 2,970,490 3,110,839 3,314,888 1,029,955 1,063,683 1,228,533 1,940,535 2,047,156 2,086,355 
			 Bromley 822,688 1,189,830 1,563,759 277,409 318,683 358,965 545,279 871,147 1,204,794 
			 Buckinghamshire 1,854,962 1,896,197 2,107,616 672,723 668,513 728,605 1,182,239 1,227,684 1,379,011 
			 Bury 1,784,640 1,913,738 1,381,533 784,227 835,510 409,457 1,000,413 1,078,228 972,076 
			 Calderdale 1,794,751 1,777,023 1,879,800 808,430 699,650 858,780 986,321 1,077,373 1,021,020 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,832,854 1,951,115 1,933,562 893,108 902,035 1,005,475 939,746 1,049,080 928,087 
			 Camden 2,536,399 2,754,176 2,602,427 1,090,385 1,181,090 1,271,882 1,446,014 1,573,086 1,330,545 
			 Cardiff 2,025,414 2,461,353 2,814,433 568,064 955,480 1,062,583 1,457,350 1,505,873 1,751,850 
			 Carmarthenshire 1,151,965 1,124,717 1,382,055 450,247 385,855 395,108 701,718 738,862 986,947 
			 Ceredigion 553,132 599,176 747,317 201,279 206,249 199,464 351,853 392,927 547,853 
			 Cheshire 2,254,651 2,458,230 2,568,442 644,472 753,359 823,498 1,610,179 1,704,871 1,744,944 
			 Conwy and Denbighshire 1,129,085 1,028,792 1,076,726 412,148 330,792 390,726 716,937 698,000 686,000 
			 Cornwall 1,870,500 2,021,943 2,145,114 759,619 875,383 974,145 1,110,881 1,146,560 1,170,969 
			 Coventry 2,658,474 2,583,743 2,847,999 866,519 925,735 1,009,415 1,791,955 1,658,008 1,838,584 
			 Croydon 2,786,038 2,756,545 2,945,833 1,165,538 1,204,885 1,299,333 1,620,500 1,551,660 1,646,500 
			 Cumbria 2,387,172 2,580,113 2,761,464 1,028,223 1,192,342 1,254,999 1,358,949 1,387,771 1,506,465 
			 Darlington 937,562 974,988 1,023,681 275,075 282,170 308,948 662,487 692,818 714,733 
			 Derby 2,089,814 2,187,210 2,248,864 763,335 818,320 910,120 1,326,479 1,368,890 1,338,744 
			 Derbyshire 2,408,224 2,646,724 3,070,595 768,234 883,962 981,634 1,639,990 1,762,762 2,088,961 
			 Devon 2,684,288 3,121,356 3,183,190 1,000,688 1,170,746 1,287,421 1,683,600 1,950,610 1,895,769 
			 Doncaster 2,076,931 2,183,626 2,507,461 748,663 814,861 1,128,473 1,328,268 1,368,765 1,378,988 
			 Dorset 1,378,137 1,570,619 1,690,021 545,802 673,087 744,280 832,335 897,532 945,741 
			 Dudley 2,125,460 2,323,492 2,452,252 1,117,686 1,189,645 1,241,248 1,007,774 1,133,647 1,211,004 
			 Durham 3,831,998 3,980,139 4,156,517 1,015,571 1,120,518 1,190,983 2,816,427 2,859,621 2,965,534 
			 Ealing 2,257,307 1,981,743 1,863,359 1,339,527 685,349 762,121 917,780 1,296,394 1,101,238 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 1,090,861 1,212,664 1,297,022 488,133 562,957 613,135 602,728 649,707 683,887 
			 East Sussex 1,820,513 2,099,540 2,263,041 663,772 773,899 840,160 1,156,741 1,325,641 1,422,881 
			 Enfield 1,544,651 2,015,506 1,923,573 491,155 405,944 448,509 1,053,496 1,609,562 1,475,064 
			 Essex 4,022,627 4,156,126 4,343,840 1,426,627 1,633,126 1,772,840 2,596,000 2,523,000 2,571,000 
			 Flintshire 847,579 1,124,875 1,354,398 371,203 594,180 580,144 476,376 530,695 774,254 
			 Gateshead 1,162,906 1,225,557 2,076,698 374,906 434,557 511,702 786,000 791,000 1,564,996 
			 Gloucestershire 3,004,674 3,135,402 3,477,297 754,581 840,772 884,053 2,250,093 2,294,630 2,593,244 
			 Greenwich 1,817,550 2,310,485 1,482,509 1,181,438 1,340,259 595,046 636,112 970,226 887,463 
			 Gwynedd Mon 968,418 1,188,972 1,249,465 376,588 510,692 498,215 591,830 678,280 751,250 
			 Hackney 3,298,746 3,756,702 3,352,122 872,902 788,593 864,389 2,425,844 2,968,109 2,487,733 
			 Halton and Warrington 1,424,752 1,867,972 1,837,589 704,784 818,418 867,832 719,968 1,049,554 969,757 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,636,021 1,757,262 1,671,817 769,913 814,523 846,322 866,108 942,739 825,495 
			 Haringey 2,566,076 3,002,639 2,457,459 1,140,816 1,165,708 1,250,079 1,425,260 1,836,931 1,207,380 
			 Harrow 910,913 1,193,041 1,361,831 230,423 525,825 632,381 680,490 667,216 729,450 
			 Hartlepool 1,292,825 1,405,210 1,474,033 450,991 496,992 543,540 841,834 908,218 930,493 
			 Havering 1,010,340 1,009,450 1,116,003 355,841 395,808 425,904 654,499 613,642 690,099 
			 Hertfordshire 3,792,402 3,936,853 4,158,573 1,075,804 1,149,583 1,240,253 2,716,598 2,787,270 2,918,320 
			 Hillingdon 1,347,589 1,428,823 1,504,057 278,911 306,415 351,275 1,068,678 1,122,408 1,152,782 
			 Hounslow 1,279,268 1,530,175 1,728,616 350,238 624,434 773,491 929,030 905,741 955,125 
			 Islington 1,498,506 1,644,247 1,708,383 568,671 650,522 799,638 929,835 993,725 908,745 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1,351,910 1,567,696 1,508,106 536,899 578,616 488,789 815,011 989,080 1,019,317 
			 Kent 6,846,151 7,679,376 7,669,959 1,798,427 1,995,435 2,136,752 5,047,724 5,683,941 5,533,207 
			 Kingston-upon-Hull 2,206,528 2,390,299 2,501,233 969,910 1,024,888 1,038,733 1,236,618 1,365,411 1,462,500 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 815,984 859,376 993,374 152,484 172,676 199,574 663,500 686,700 793,800 
			 Kirklees 2,694,618 2,977,398 3,120,354 605,647 919,443 1,139,070 2,088,971 2,057,955 1,981,284 
			 Knowsley 2,061,081 1,765,141 1,976,253 833,232 620,267 693,427 1,227,849 1,144,874 1,282,826 
			 Lambeth 2,943,593 2,822,857 3,207,021 776,775 932,812 1,231,779 2,166,818 1,890,045 1,975,242 
			 Lancashire 5,172,766 5,522,706 5,675,691 1,935,266 2,212,406 2,281,082 3,237,500 3,310,300 3,394,609 
			 Leeds 6,362,314 6,754,804 7,085,133 2,436,454 2,517,151 2,459,318 3,925,860 4,237,653 4,625,815 
			 Leicester City 3,600,679 3,782,109 3,869,922 1,151,779 1,288,269 1,433,022 2,448,900 2,493,840 2,436,900 
			 Leicestershire 2,229,654 2,579,780 2,705,272 633,234 676,600 730,197 1,596,420 1,903,180 1,975,075 
			 Lewisham 1,992,119 2,293,805 3,376,436 549,536 624,011 1,660,429 1,442,583 1,669,794 1,716,007 
			 Lincolnshire 3,010,301 3,365,813 3,289,713 1,098,043 1,215,488 1,317,254 1,912,258 2,150,325 1,972,459 
			 Liverpool 4,742,310 5,145,453 5,404,968 1,975,590 2,133,434 2,280,400 2,766,720 3,012,019 3,124,568 
			 Luton 1,931,358 1,969,154 1,993,004 714,267 645,489 729,971 1,217,091 1,323,665 1,263,033 
			 Manchester 5,115,499 4,920,985 5,210,028 2,268,438 2,115,102 2,316,776 2,847,061 2,805,883 2,893,252 
			 Medway 1,006,352 1,082,428 1,175,072 310,943 385,260 475,387 695,409 697,168 699,685 
			 Merthyr Tydfil 685,324 679,962 638,200 259,503 241,258 225,242 425,821 438,704 412,958 
			 Merton 720,794 792,337 818,509 196,592 230,135 251,058 524,202 562,202 567,451 
			 Milton Keynes 1,423,692 1,361,331 1,487,737 428,637 445,193 480,960 995,055 916,138 1,006,777 
			 Monmouthshire and Torfaen 1,193,948 1,261,781 1,296,695 262,025 293,522 287,326 931,923 968,259 1,009,369 
			 Neath Port Talbot 2,344,121 1,568,532 1,718,232 1,623,536 798,187 819,781 720,585 770,345 898,451 
			 Newcastle-upon-Tyne 2,414,803 2,717,704 3,079,940 1,287,378 1,390,334 1,529,091 1,127,425 1,327,370 1,550,849 
			 Newham(1) 3,028,204 4,959,721 3,482,334 1,557,139 1,573,546 1,587,134 1,471,065 3,386,175 1,895,200 
			 Newport 1,028,332 1,148,817 1,314,650 315,266 375,701 366,711 713,066 773,116 947,939 
			 Norfolk 3,668,154 4,096,742 3,516,482 1,050,199 1,212,056 1,320,925 2,617,955 2,884,686 2,195,557 
			 North East Lincolnshire 1,013,614 1,341,174 1,644,874 482,748 539,108 660,299 530,866 802,066 984,575 
			 North Lincolnshire 1,293,440 1,318,798 1,250,116 733,073 713,815 644,116 560,367 604,983 606,000 
			 North Somerset 657,176 727,793 1,082,568 233,226 276,789 332,184 423,950 451,004 750,384 
			 North Tyneside 1,238,810 1,181,188 1,158,006 461,139 371,178 438,438 777,671 810,010 719,568 
			 North Yorkshire 2,428,033 2,809,317 3,213,336 1,324,269 1,407,174 1,537,104 1,103,764 1,402,143 1,676,232 
			 Northamptonshire 3,446,717 3,605,073 3,796,501 960,777 971,083 1,000,631 2,485,940 2,633,990 2,795,870 
			 Northumberland 1,914,385 2,088,491 2,199,627 598,608 678,246 767,972 1,315,777 1,410,245 1,431,655 
			 Nottingham 3,027,011 3,173,817 3,503,957 1,354,709 1,437,330 1,564,137 1,672,302 1,736,487 1,939,820 
			 Nottinghamshire 3,955,855 4,179,634 4,243,213 1,522,157 1,688,264 1,791,385 2,433,698 2,491,370 2,451,828 
			 Oldham 2,567,948 1,896,623 2,015,584 1,453,898 843,945 943,681 1,114,050 1,052,678 1,071,903 
			 Oxfordshire 3,062,703 2,830,607 3,071,403 858,275 923,582 1,018,463 2,204,428 1,907,025 2,052,940 
			 Pembrokeshire 718,615 769,331 1,000,973 272,194 299,551 313,137 446,421 469,780 687,836 
			 Peterborough 1,838,465 2,013,689 2,071,305 769,595 834,014 946,236 1,068,870 1,179,675 1,125,069 
			 Plymouth 1,290,567 1,332,249 1,406,106 556,383 555,774 608,968 734,184 776,475 797,138 
			 Powys 978,336 918,970 1,152,847 344,380 329,325 379,367 633,956 589,645 773,480 
			 Reading(2) 1,776,264 1,439,227 1,586,468 871,258 815,742 828,807 905,006 623,485 757,661 
			 Redbridge 2,127,060 2,084,378 2,226,718 435,485 512,079 583,189 1,691,575 1,572,299 1,643,529 
			 Rhondda Cynon Taff 2,015,198 2,399,044 2,434,570 471,463 843,873 864,271 1,543,735 1,555,171 1,570,299 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 607,680 677,156 985,079 150,680 175,656 192,439 457,000 501,500 792,640 
			 Rochdale 1,556,568 2,109,371 2,363,578 603,568 883,371 986,352 953,000 1,226,000 1,377,226 
			 Rotherham 2,774,829 2,921,986 2,128,479 1,771,829 1,886,986 1,025,323 1,003,000 1,035,000 1,103,156 
			 Salford 1,284,647 1,440,538 1,564,546 634,332 702,803 804,544 650,315 737,735 760,002 
			 Sandwell 1,872,778 2,016,566 2,241,746 620,271 692,979 809,693 1,252,507 1,323,587 1,432,053 
			 Sefton 1,770,920 1,859,297 2,219,476 404,020 585,397 659,976 1,366,900 1,273,900 1,559,500 
			 Sheffield 2,826,712 3,008,846 3,705,487 826,712 913,846 1,610,487 2,000,000 2,095,000 2,095,000 
			 Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin 1,737,111 1,836,798 1,960,473 607,301 665,478 768,783 1,129,810 1,171,320 1,191,690 
			 Slough 1,016,149 1,074,369 1,179,948 325,424 362,366 431,427 690,725 712,003 748,521 
			 Solihull 1,066,229 1,111,457 1,269,713 325,687 369,356 474,791 740,542 742,101 794,922 
			 Somerset 2,565,106 2,677,890 2,674,683 990,646 1,054,800 1,114,859 1,574,460 1,623,090 1,559,824 
			 South Gloucestershire(1) 827,847 897,256 937,148 288,847 334,256 391,918 539,000 563,000 545,230 
			 South Tees 3,459,515 3,241,109 3,037,495 1,993,936 2,038,267 2,120,401 1,465,579 1,202,842 917,094 
			 South Tyneside 1,793,238 1,626,431 1,678,341 529,197 412,259 484,075 1,264,041 1,214,172 1,194,266 
			 Southend-on-Sea 695,799 842,347 946,923 253,149 387,806 418,059 442,650 454,541 528,864 
			 Southwark 3,373,859 3,599,941 4,083,933 738,694 747,097 915,759 2,635,165 2,852,844 3,168,174 
			 St. Helens 1,200,059 1,313,869 1,380,941 519,878 533,816 587,439 680,181 780,053 793,502 
			 Staffordshire 4,592,052 4,594,322 4,822,642 2,209,322 2,114,992 2,317,942 2,382,730 2,479,330 2,504,700 
			 Stockport 1,406,960 1,633,803 1,735,856 318,571 576,733 657,828 1,088,389 1,057,070 1,078,028 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 1,151,909 1,259,183 1,348,972 472,163 537,837 567,118 679,746 721,346 781,854 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 2,328,801 2,445,423 2,535,059 796,107 825,337 870,677 1,532,694 1,620,086 1,664,382 
			 Suffolk 3,286,798 3,546,540 3,573,334 1,067,798 1,154,189 1,236,939 2,219,000 2,392,351 2,336,395 
			 Sunderland 3,596,790 4,067,531 4,108,128 1,651,268 1,727,424 1,677,651 1,945,522 2,340,107 2,430,477 
			 Surrey 2,743,749 2,896,715 2,983,696 1,038,927 1,073,381 1,163,820 1,704,822 1,823,334 1,819,876 
			 Sutton 787,454 925,416 807,574 200,873 227,497 261,866 586,581 697,919 545,708 
			 Swansea 1,760,759 2,064,050 2,327,065 472,459 686,476 701,448 1,288,300 1,377,574 1,625,617 
			 Swindon 892,880 969,585 1,069,756 253,432 309,551 393,243 639,448 660,034 676,513 
			 Tameside 1,346,445 1,490,302 1,635,014 742,709 836,064 930,535 603,736 654,238 704,479 
			 Thurrock 1,061,063 1,042,422 1,131,938 445,808 391,949 424,572 615,255 650,473 707,366 
			 Torbay 845,478 853,693 896,815 276,742 287,201 309,622 568,736 566,492 587,193 
			 Tower Hamlets and City of London 1,741,447 1,864,442 1,983,377 656,388 746,831 863,940 1,085,059 1,117,611 1,119,437 
			 Trafford 2,340,245 2,512,420 2,869,739 1,362,229 1,613,685 1,937,037 978,016 898,735 932,702 
			 Vale of Glamorgan 1,022,278 991,459 994,364 190,195 198,429 192,508 832,083 793,030 801,856 
			 Wakefield 1,796,211 1,981,690 2,159,545 797,973 868,093 1,016,503 998,238 1,113,597 1,143,042 
			 Walsall 1,621,932 1,722,936 2,099,155 402,721 464,327 514,349 1,219,211 1,258,609 1,584,806 
			 Waltham Forest 1,557,007 2,026,516 958,040 701,632 779,941 871,224 855,375 1,246,575 86,816 
			 Wandsworth 2,464,030 2,217,787 2,028,546 1,087,556 907,674 789,616 1,376,474 1,310,113 1,238,930 
			 Warwickshire 2,290,645 2,271,891 2,469,646 633,776 727,644 791,950 1,657,069 1,544,247 1,677,696 
			 Wessex 7,606,998 7,563,178 8,381,509 2,223,941 2,419,490 2,812,339 5,383,057 5,143,688 5,569,170 
			 West Berkshire 760,190 881,133 963,841 170,982 198,133 224,335 589,208 683,000 739,506 
			 West Sussex 2,390,344 2,368,313 1,992,035 826,068 897,291 968,706 1,564,276 1,471,022 1,023,329 
			 Westminster 1,746,831 1,825,591 2,306,351 414,981 493,741 631,051 1,331,850 1,331,850 1,675,300 
			 Wigan 1,793,352 1,946,132 2,132,530 438,555 508,675 618,055 1,354,797 1,437,457 1,514,475 
			 Wiltshire 1,505,228 1,620,205 1,691,328 623,303 712,461 784,512 881,925 907,744 906,816 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 722,164 668,857 684,847 143,787 167,292 189,892 578,377 501,565 494,955 
			 Wirral 2,267,395 2,366,442 2,643,605 799,123 873,412 934,572 1,468,272 1,493,030 1,709,033 
			 Wokingham(1) - 378,822 558,287 - 141,372 165,549 - 237,450 392,738 
			 Wolverhampton 2,433,318 2,873,856 3,028,619 605,198 731,466 871,412 1,628,120 2,142,390 2,157,207 
			 Worcestershire and Herefordshire 3,022,248 3,194,828 3,339,657 1,159,296 1,286,592 1,388,272 1,862,952 1,908,236 1,951,385 
			 Wrexham 1,193,755 1,126,659 1,511,879 457,357 257,190 260,920 736,398 869,469 1,250,959 
			 York 714,175 835,777 874,664 223,208 256,624 275,134 490,967 579,153 599,530 
			 Total 322,108,739 343,430,286 361,370,945 118,481,713 126,762,030 138,557,446 203,627,026 216,668,256 222,813,499 
			 ' Totals indicated differ from those published in the Youth Justice Annual Workload Data for 2006-07 and 2007-08, due to subsequent resubmissions by South Gloucestershire and Newham respectively. (2 )Reading and Wokingham split into Reading YOT and Wokingham YOT from April 2007.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Academies

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many National Challenge schools are academy schools.

Vernon Coaker: Based on the most recently available GCSE results (2008), there are 32 academies below the National Challenge benchmark of at least 30 per cent. of KS4 pupils achieving five A*-C grade GCSEs including English and maths. An updated figure will be available in January 2010 when the validated 2009 GCSE results are published.

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  if he will assess the merits of using independent disability experts to review and monitor current and future Building Schools for the Future new build proposals;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with national disability groups on their input to school design and access planning under the Building Schools for the Future programme;
	(3)  what involvement there has been for parents of children with disabilities or special educational needs in reviewing the criteria for school new builds under the Building Schools for the Future programme;
	(4)  what his policy is on involving  (a) parents,  (b) children and  (c) disability groups in building design criteria for schools which admit children with disabilities and special educational needs; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what discussions he has had with Partnerships for Schools about the effectiveness of his Department's guidance for adaptations for children with disabilities and special educational needs in implementation of the Building Schools for the Future programme;
	(6)  how many school new build design proposals under the Building Schools for the Future programme have been subject to revision because of access problems for children with disabilities and special educational needs.

Vernon Coaker: The Department for Children Schools and Families and Partnerships for Schools are committed to inclusive design and there are a number of processes in place to ensure that Building Schools for the Future new build proposals meet the needs of children with disabilities and special educational needs:
	The design of a new school has to comply with Approved Document M of the Building Regulations 'Access to and use of buildings' and this is checked through the Building Control system.
	Under the Disability Discrimination Act, all buildings have to provide suitable access for disabled people.
	Teams bidding for Building Schools for the Future projects cannot proceed through to procurement if their sample designs do not meet a Minimum Design Standard judged by a panel set up by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) which includes people with experience in special school design and accessibility.
	The Building Schools for the Future standard contract documentation includes a requirement to create an access document, which records all actions taken to ensure access and inclusion are appropriate.
	In addition, the Department and Partnerships for Schools have regular contact with a variety of disability groups over design matters. For example, a number of organisations-including the Council for Disabled Children, the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) and the National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS)-advised the Department on its publication Building Bulletin 102: 'Designing for Disabled Children and Children with Special Educational Needs', which is the main reference guide for designing inclusive mainstream and special schools in Building Schools for the Future.
	More recently DCSF ministers and officials have held extensive discussions with the NDCS about acoustics in Building Schools for the Future projects.
	The Department and Partnerships for Schools encourage local authorities and designers to involve all children-including those with disabilities or special educational needs-and their parents in the design briefing process. The Design Quality Indicator (DQI) for Schools, which helps staff children, and parents to establish what they want in their new building, is mandatory for all Building Schools for the Future projects over £1 million. The resulting information has to be submitted to the Minimum Design Standard panel to inform their decision on whether the design is suitable and passes the threshold. Partnerships for Schools also use the DQI information to inform Building Schools for the Future benchmarking, and in turn to improve the design brief template that forms part of the Building Schools for the Future standard documentation. For more information on the DQI for Schools process, see:
	www.dqi.org.uk
	In addition, Partnerships for Schools encourages all students involved in Building Schools for the Future to take part in the Sorrell Foundation's 'joinedupdesign' sessions where they create a Pupils' Brief to be fed into the schools design brief. For more information on joinedupdesign, see:
	www.thesorrellfoundation.com
	The Department and Partnerships for Schools have estimated that around 50 per cent. of Building Schools for the Future projects will involve remodelling or refurbishment. All design guidance issued by the Department and Partnerships for Schools has therefore been written with this in mind. Building Bulletin 102: 'Designing for Disabled Children and Children with Special Educational Needs' can be used to design new facilities and for assessing the suitability of existing accommodation.
	The Department does not routinely collect information about revisions that have been made to new build proposals. But we expect all school projects to be designed to be accessible and inclusive, following the requirements of the Building Regulations, the DDA and the Departments design guidance.

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many schools have been refurbished through the Building Schools for the Future programme; how many of them were found to have asbestos; and how many had that asbestos removed;
	(2)  how much has been spent on refurbishing schools through the Building Schools for the Future programme; how much has been spent dealing with asbestos during such refurbishments; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: Of the 129 schools where work under Building Schools for the Future (BSF) is complete, 30 have included refurbishment. In a further 21, the work was confined to ICT renewal. Asbestos surveys may or may not have been required, depending on the age of the buildings. The total capital funding provided for these schools under BSF is £429 million, including £66 million for ICT. Information on the number of refurbished schools that contained asbestos or the amounts spent on asbestos removal is not held centrally. Overall the BSF programme is expected to comprise approximately 35 per cent. major refurbishment, 15 per cent. minor refurbishment and 50 per cent. new build in terms of floor area. Major refurbishments carried out under the Building Schools for the Future programme normally include removal of all asbestos in areas likely to be disturbed by the work. Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) that are likely to deteriorate are identified by an asbestos survey for each refurbishment and normally removed.
	Asbestos is also removed when buildings are demolished. For minor refurbishment work, an asbestos survey is done and ACMs are either removed or managed in place, depending on their condition.

Departmental Air Travel

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many first-class flights were taken by each Minister in his Department in 2008-09; and what the  (a) origin,  (b) destination and  (c) cost was of each such flight.

Diana Johnson: There have been no first-class flights purchased for Ministers in the Department for Children, Schools and Families in 2008-09.
	Ministers' tickets have been upgraded by airlines on four occasions in 2008-09 at no cost to the Department.
	 Right hon. Ed Balls MP
	New York to Heathrow
	 Right hon. Jim Knight MP
	Heathrow to Singapore
	Dubai to Heathrow
	Heathrow to Beijing

Education: Assessments

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what qualifications are required to become an examiner for  (a) A levels and  (b) GCSEs.

Vernon Coaker: Examiners for GCSEs and A levels (GCEs) are employed by the awarding bodies, which award the qualifications and are regulated by Ofqual. Ofqual does not specify the qualifications required in order to become an examiner. The regulators' 'GCSE, GCE and AEA Code of Practice' (April 2009) sets out the responsibilities that awarding bodies must follow to ensure the standardisation of marking, including that examiners should have relevant experience in the subject area.

Family Courts: Guardians

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the answer of 3 November 2009,  Official Report, column 945W, on family courts: guardians, how many cases the Children and Family Care Advisory and Support Services has allocated to self employment guardians in each area in each of the last six months.

Dawn Primarolo: The allocation of cases to self employed guardians is a matter for CAFCASS which has supplied the following data(1):
	(1) This data is from the CAFCASS national Case Management System (CMS). The unit of measurement is cases, which can involve multiple application types and multiple reports for a family with multiple children.
	
		
			  Trend of allocations to SEC guardians for the last six months 
			   Cases allocated between 1 May to 31 October 2009 
			  Area  May   June   July   Aug   Sept   Oct  Total 
			 N1 (North and South Tyne) 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			 N2 (Durham and Teesside) 3 4 1 0 0 0 8 
			 N3 (Lancashire and Cumbria) 4 3 2 31 0 1 41 
			 N5 (West Yorkshire) 5 2 0 1 0 0 8 
			 N6 (South Yorkshire) 7 0 1 0 0 0 8 
			 N7 (Greater Manchester) 1 0 0 0 0 13 14 
			 C2 (Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire) 1 5 12 2 3 1 24 
			 C3 (Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire) 5 1 0 0 0 1 7 
			 C4 (Staffordshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire) 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 C5 (Birmingham, Black Country, Solihull) 11 6 4 0 0 1 22 
			 C6 (Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex) 14 15 11 4 4 5 53 
			 C7 (Cheshire and Merseyside) 0 1 3 1 0 0 5 
			 S1 (Avon, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire) 3 0 1 0 1 0 5 
			 S2 (Thames Valley) 19 10 7 13 4 6 59 
			 S3 (Greater London) 47 52 49 41 46 65 300 
			 S4 (Kent) 16 15 11 9 14 7 72 
			 S5 (Sussex and Surrey) 20 13 13 14 25 10 95 
			 S6 (Hampshire, Dorset, Isle of Wight) 4 8 8 14 8 0 42 
			 S7 (Cornwall, Devon, Somerset) 6 10 7 2 6 13 44 
			 Total 167 145 131 132 111 123 809 
		
	
	This data relates to self employed contractors employed in care cases (section 31 cases). C1 (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire) and N4 (North and East Yorkshire and Humberside) have not allocated any new care cases to self employed contractors in the period covered in the table.

Family Courts: Guardians

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent representations he has received on the caseloads of guardians employed by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service.

Dawn Primarolo: The allocation and management of guardians' caseloads is a matter for CAFCASS. The Secretary of State has received approximately 20 representations on CAFCASS performance in the last six months. A minority of these refer to the caseloads of guardians employed by CAFCASS.

Family Intervention Projects

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent estimate he has made of the number of families who have been subject to support from family interventions projects; what funding his Department has committed to provide to family intervention projects in  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11; and how such funding is to be allocated between local authorities.

Dawn Primarolo: Data published in November 2009 shows that 2,225 families have received support from a Family Intervention project as at 31 March 2009.
	The Government allocated £35.5 million for the projects in 2009-10 and are planning to allocate £57 million Government funding in 2010-11. In addition there is anticipated match funding of £9.5 million from Registered Social Landlords, Housing Associations and Youth Offending Teams. Funding has been allocated to local authorities using a range of criteria including levels of antisocial behaviour, youth crime, deprivation, poverty and number of children.

GCSE

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the effect of modular GCSE courses on the level of examination grades awarded; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: There is nothing in the regulatory criteria governing GCSEs that requires GCSEs to be modular: it is for awarding bodies to decide whether to develop qualifications in this way.
	It is for Ofqual as the independent regulator to ensure that the standard of GCSEs is maintained year on year. They are engaged in work with awarding bodies to make sure that this is the case where the awarding body has chosen a modular approach.

National Curriculum Tests: Contracts

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what progress has been made on the Key Stage 2 test contract for 2010; and if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of this contract.

Vernon Coaker: The Secretary of State has approved the QCDA's choice of Edexcel as the test operations contractor to deliver key stage 2 national curriculum tests in 2010. Edexcel has a strong track record in delivery of tests and exams and successfully delivered key stage 2 results to schools and pupils this year. The value of the contract for the 2010 tests is £23 million.

Primary Education: Lancashire

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent representations he has received on proposed primary school closures in West Lancashire.

Vernon Coaker: None. School place planning is the statutory responsibility of individual local authorities (LAs). This includes making sure there are sufficient school places, and also removing surplus places when required. To facilitate this LAs have the power to propose the closure of maintained schools.
	Where LAs propose to make any changes to local school provision, including closures, they must follow a statutory process, which is then decided under established local decision making arrangements. Ministers have no direct role in the process.

Sure Start Programme

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  whether he has plans to extend the operation of the Sure Start programme in  (a) Chorley and  (b) Lancashire;
	(2)  how much his Department has spent on the Sure Start programme in Chorley since the introduction of that programme.

Dawn Primarolo: Lancashire currently has 73 designated Sure Start Children's Centres offering access to services to approximately 48,800 children under five and their families. Of these centres, six are in the Chorley constituency, with a combined reach of approximately 4,000 children under five and their families. Lancashire is planning a further six centres to be delivered by 2010, with two of these in Chorley.
	The Department allocates capital and revenue funding for children's centres and their predecessor Sure Start Local programmes to local authorities. It is for local authorities to decide how to allocate funding between individual centres. The following table contains details of the Sure Start Children's Centre expenditure (both revenue and capital) for Lancashire for the years since the inception of the Sure Start programme.
	
		
			  Lancashire Sure Start Children's Centre funding (Capital and Revenue) programme allocation table 
			  Capital and revenue allocations  Children's Centre expenditure/Lancashire 
			 2003-04 21,000 
			 2004-05 100,000 
			 2005-06 7,150,000 
			 2006-07 12,559,000 
			 2007-08 14,323,000 
			 2008-09 13,125,000

Sure Start Programme

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his most recent assessment is of the outcomes of the Sure Start programme; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 10 November 2009,  Official Report, column 354W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Wirral, South (Ben Chapman).

Teachers: Training

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what timetable has been set for the review by the Training and Development Agency for Schools of the qualified teacher status standards.

Vernon Coaker: Beginning a review of the standards for qualified teacher status has been agreed as one of the operational priorities for the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) for 2010-11. We are currently discussing the TDA's remit for next year, including the detailed timetable for the standards review.

Teenage Pregnancy

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether he has made an assessment of the merits of collecting more detailed information on pregnancies involving one or more underage parents.

Dawn Primarolo: The conception data supplied by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) are derived by combining birth registration data and abortion notifications. It includes the number of conceptions, the rate of conceptions per 1,000 females and the proportion of conceptions that result in an abortion.
	For the purposes of measuring progress against the Government's Teenage Pregnancy Strategy, the under-18 conception rate is used. This is expressed as a rate per 1,000 females aged 15-17. Using rates rather than numbers takes account of changes in the 15-17 female population size and therefore provides a more accurate picture of the proportion of the under-18 population that became pregnant in a given year.
	Conception data can be disaggregated to ward level, allowing local areas to target their local strategies in high-rate neighbourhoods. Ward-level data are combined over three years, to comply with ONS's confidentiality rules which do not permit abortion numbers of less than 10 to be published, in order to protect patient confidentiality.
	We do not have any plans to change these data collection arrangements.
	Between 1998 (the baseline year for the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy) and 2007 (the latest year for which data are available), the under-18 conception rate has fallen by 10.7 per cent; within the overall decline in under-18 conceptions, teenage births have fallen by 23.3 per cent. to their lowest level for over 15 years.

Truancy: Fines

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many parents have been fined as a result of their children not attending school in  (a) Lewes constituency,  (b) Sussex and  (c) the South East in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The Department collects data at local authority level on the number of penalty notices issued to parents for their child's unauthorised absence from school. Information is not available at constituency level. These data have been collected since 1 September 2004 and the latest data available relate to the period to 31 August 2008. For each of these four years, the data for Sussex and the south-east are:
	
		
			  Number 
			   South-east  Sussex 
			 1 September 2004 to 31 August 2005 117 19 
			 1 September 2005 to 1 September 2006 782 150 
			 2 September 2006 to 31 August 2007 1,973 226 
			 1 September 2007 to 3 August 2008 2,429 170 
		
	
	Full penalty notice data can be found at:
	http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/_doc/13800/DataPNsFTPOsPCs%20Cumlative%20Sep04-Aug08.pdf

United Church Schools Trust

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether his Department has funded sponsorship funds operated by United Church Schools Trust.

Vernon Coaker: The Department does not provide any funding to United Church Schools Trust (UCST). United Learning Trust (ULT) is a subsidiary charity of UCST and sponsors 17 academies. The Department does not provide any funding to sponsors but to the not-for-profit charitable companies they establish to set up and run the academies. Sponsors, including ULT also provide funding to these charitable companies.

TREASURY

EU Budget

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's projections are for the level of the UK's  (a) contributions to and  (b) receipts from the EU budget in each calendar year from 2009 to 2013 inclusive, in pounds sterling, (i) before and (ii) after abatement.

Ian Pearson: Table 3.2 of the European Community Finances White Paper of July 2009 (Cm 7640) gives the latest projections for the UK's contributions to and receipts from the EC budget, including the value of our abatement, up to the financial year 2010-11. In line with all other public expenditure estimates, the Treasury does not currently publish forecasts beyond 2010-11. As usual, these figures will, where necessary, be updated in the forthcoming pre-Budget report.

EU Budget

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what forecast his Department has made of UK  (a) contributions to and  (b) receipts from the EU budget in pounds sterling for each calendar year from 2014 to 2020 inclusive (i) before and (ii) after abatement.

Ian Pearson: In line with all other public expenditure estimates, the Treasury does not currently publish forecasts beyond 2010-11.

EU Budget

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions his Department's officials have had with  (a) other EU member states and  (b) EU institutions on the EU Financial Framework 2014-20.

Ian Pearson: HM Treasury representatives have discussions with EU counterparts on a variety of issues on a regular basis. Formal negotiations on the next Financial Framework have not yet started.

European Investment Bank

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department has taken to help UK businesses apply for European Investment Bank funds.

Ian Pearson: The Government are committed to helping UK businesses access European investment Bank (EIB) funding, whether direct loans for large projects and businesses or intermediated loans for small businesses and projects.
	In particular, over the last 12 months the Government have:
	Announced that UK small businesses stand to benefit from up to £4 billion of lending from the EIB between 2008 and 2011 through intermediating banks.
	Called for the EIB to double its financial support for research and development programmes in the automotive sector, by making available €8 billion over 2009 and 2010 through the European Clean Transport Facility.
	Announced that UK renewable and energy projects stand to benefit from up to £4 billion of new capital from the EIB, including a specific £700 million intermediated lending scheme for small and medium sized renewable energy projects.
	However, while the Government can play a facilitating role, businesses must apply directly to the EIB (or UK banks in the case of intermediated lending) and applications are assessed according to the EIB's (or the relevant UK banks') own internal appraisal processes.

Israel: EU External Trade

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether HM Revenue and Customs has had contact with its Dutch counterpart in relation to its investigation into whether Ahava products originate in whole or in part from the Palestinian Occupied Territories.

Stephen Timms: There has been no contact.

Israel: EU External Trade

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what  (a) volume and  (b) monetary value of Ahava products was imported to the UK in the last 12 months; and what proportion of such imports was eligible for the trading preference under the EU-Israel Trade Agreement.

Stephen Timms: Commercial confidentiality makes it inappropriate to provide this information for an individual supplier.

Non-Domestic Rates: Parking

Hugo Swire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria the Valuation Office Agency uses to determine the rateable value of reserved parking spaces.

Ian Pearson: The methodology is set out in rating manual volume 5 section 200 for car parks and in the individual practice note issued for each five yearly revaluation. These can be viewed on the Valuation Office Agency's website:
	www.voa.gov.uk

Research: Finance

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he plans to take to increase research and development expenditure; what assessment he has made of the effect of research and development tax credits on research and development expenditure in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: Specific tax relief was introduced in 2000 for spending on research and development by companies which are small or medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Relief was extended to larger companies in 2002. Between 2003-04 and 2006-07 the amount of R and D expenditure supported increased by 10 per cent. a year, from £5.7 billion in 2003-04 to £7.6 billion in 2006-07, the latest year for which data are available. Since the introduction of the schemes, there have been over 36,000 claims for R and D tax relief, with over £3 billion of support claimed by innovative companies in the UK, supporting £32 billion of R and D expenditure in total.

Tax Allowances: Professional Organisations

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the tax revenues likely to be raised as a consequence of ending the charitable status and tax exemptions for which the professional accountancy bodies operating as recognised supervisory bodies under the Companies Act 2006 are eligible.

Ian Pearson: No estimates have been made. The professional accountancy bodies that are currently registered in the UK as recognised supervisory bodies do not have charitable status and thus do not qualify for charity-related tax exemptions.

HEALTH

Health Warnings: Super-Strength Lager

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward proposals to introduce health warnings on cans of super-strength lager.

Gillian Merron: We are working with industry to include units, drinking guidelines and pregnancy warnings on labels.
	Where progress on industry's voluntary commitments is slow, we can expect to legislate.

Dementia: In-patients

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on the standard of hospital care received by in-patients with dementia.

Phil Hope: The Alzheimer's Society report on the quality of dementia care in hospitals is a timely reminder of the need for improvement of hospital care for people with dementia. The national dementia strategy recognises the need to transform hospital services for people with dementia and deliver a skilled and effective workforce in hospitals.

Hospital-Acquired Infections

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of steps taken against hospital-acquired infections.

Ann Keen: The national health service is continuing to deliver sustained reductions in Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections and  C. difficile infections. However, one preventable infection is one too many and we must do all we can to keep driving down all infections.

Community Hospitals

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his policy on the provision of local community hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The transforming community services programme is supporting primary care trusts (PCTs) to make local decisions about how they provide community services. We published guidance in January 2009 asking PCTs to assess their community estates in the light of their commissioning intentions, and produce estate strategies by April 2010.

NHS Dentistry

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to increase the number of patients who have access to an NHS dentist.

Ann Keen: We have invested a record £2 billion in dentistry and set up a national access programme to help the NHS deliver its goal of access for all who seek it by 2011. We therefore expect access to continue to increase.
	The latest data shows that access has grown for the fourth quarter running, with 721,000 more patients accessing NHS services in the 24 months ending June 2009 than compared to the 24 months ending June 2008. The next quarterly statistics will be published on 26 November.

Social Care Reform

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the reform of social care.

Phil Hope: The Green Paper 'Shaping the Future of Care Together' set out a vision for a national care service that is fairer, simpler and more affordable-ensuring people get really good care wherever they live, and whatever they or their family needs. Following our extensive consultation which closed on 13 November, we will publish a White Paper in the new year.

Care Provision

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to change the arrangements for the provision of care for the elderly and the disabled.

Phil Hope: Subject to parliamentary approval, the Personal Care at Home Bill will mean that older people and younger disabled adults will be better helped to live independently for longer in their own homes-something they tell us they want.
	This is a major step towards the setting up of a national care service.

Organ Donation Education

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on the number of schools which have made use of the NHS Blood and Transplant Service's Give and Let Live organ donation education programme.

Ann Keen: 'Give and Let Live' is a free educational resource that helps young people decide if they want to give blood, donate bone marrow or join the NHS organ donor register.
	The programme is available to all United Kingdom state and independent secondary schools.
	The Secretary of State has many discussions with his Cabinet colleagues covering a variety of subjects and areas.
	Moreover, departmental officials are in regular contact with their colleagues in the Department for Children, Schools and Families on all aspects of promoting to young people the importance of being a donor.

Incinerators

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has  (a) conducted and  (b) commissioned any recent research on the effects of the operation of incinerators on the health of local residents.

Gillian Merron: The Department is neither commissioning nor conducting any research in this area currently.
	The Health Protection Agency has recently reviewed the latest research on the health effects of modern municipal waste incinerators. They concluded that, while it is not possible to rule out adverse health effects completely, any potential damage from modern, well-run and regulated incinerators is likely to be so small that it would be undetectable.

Tuberculosis

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent consideration he has given to the establishment of a national programme for the co-ordination of services to prevent and control tuberculosis.

Gillian Merron: The responsibility for provision of tuberculosis (TB) control services rests with local commissioners. In 2004, the Department published a TB Action Plan for NHS professionals, managers and commissioners, which is aimed at improving early TB detection and completion of treatment. In 2007, the Department launched a TB Toolkit for commissioners to secure the best TB services to meet local needs.

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of repeat abortions undertaken in relation to females aged  (a) 11,  (b) 12,  (c) 13,  (d) 14,  (e) 15,  (f) 16,  (g) 17,  (h) 18,  (i) 19,  (j) 20,  (k) 21,  (l) 22,  (m) 23,  (n) 24,  (o) between 25 and 29,  (p) between 30 and 34 and  (q) 35 years and over in each primary care trust area in each year since 2000.

Gillian Merron: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Ambulance Services: Hornsey

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the data held by his Department on the time taken for people in Hornsey and Wood Green constituency to get to hospital under blue light conditions in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: This information is not held centrally.
	The Department does not require ambulance trusts to submit data on times from collecting a patient to arriving at premises providing national health service health care. The data that the Department does collect on ambulance response times is published on an annual basis in the statistical bulletin, Ambulance services, England.

Ambulance Services: Standards

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his latest estimate is of the average  (a) target and  (b) actual ambulance response time to 999 calls in (i) urban and (ii) rural areas; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The Department no longer classifies ambulance trusts as urban or rural, and therefore performance data is no longer reported against these categories.
	All ambulance trusts are required to meet the same national response time standards irrespective of location. Category A calls (those presenting conditions that may be immediately life threatening) should be responded to within eight minutes in 75 per cent. of cases and Category B calls (those conditions that are serious but not immediately life threatening) should be responded to within 19 minutes in 95 per cent. of cases.

Arthritis

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many primary care trusts  (a) provided information on inflammatory arthritis to GPs in the last 12 months and  (b) plan to provide such information in the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Information on how many primary care trusts provide information on rheumatoid arthritis to general practitioners (GPs) is not recorded centrally.
	Information on inflammatory arthritis is available to health professionals, including GPs, through national health service evidence and Map of Medicine.
	The Department has also published a good practice commissioning pathway for inflammatory arthritis which supports clinicians in identifying cases of rheumatoid arthritis and ensuring that they are set on the right pathway of care. This describes key symptoms, for example where patients should be referred for urgent treatment.

Cancer: Mentally Ill

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cancer specialists have received training on the provisions of the Mental Capacity Act 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: As part of the implementation of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA), the Department made funding available to the health and social care economy for training purposes. In addition, the Department funded a range of training materials and booklets on the MCA. These included materials to be used by trainers in face to face training, e-learning materials and the booklets in the Making Decisions series.
	All were made available to the national health service. In addition, the Department encouraged primary care trusts (PCTs) to use the resources they received for implementation to fund a MCA co-ordinator. Many have done so and MCA co-ordinators have been active in developing local training plans and commissioning and arranging training.
	The number of cancer specialists who have made use of the training is not held centrally; arranging training is a local issue. Training opportunities continue and we know that cancer specialists have been making referrals to Independent Mental Capacity Advocates, which is an indication they are aware of the MCA.

Carbon Monoxide: Poisoning

Tom Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will ensure that facilities to monitor blood carbon monoxide levels through breath analysis are available in every general practitioner's surgery;
	(2)  what proportion of NHS patients recorded as tired all the time are monitored for carbon monoxide poisoning.

Gillian Merron: This information is not recorded. Tiredness is a possible symptom of a range of medical conditions.
	Monitoring of carbon monoxide levels by breath analysis is often available in general practitioner's (GPs) surgeries for use in smoking cessation clinics. Where they are not available in GP surgeries, they are available in the many community locations served by the NHS Local Stop Smoking Service.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Research

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research his Department has evaluated on the causes of myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Ann Keen: None.
	The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research. The MRC is an independent body which receives its grant-in-aid from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) continues to be a strategic priority area for funding and the MRC remains committed to supporting scientific research into all aspects of CFS/ME including evaluations of treatments and studies into the biological basis of the condition.
	In 2008 a new Expert Group was set up by the MRC to consider how best to encourage new high-quality research into CFS/ME and to bring researchers from associated areas into the field. The Expert Group has met twice, in December 2008 and March 2009.
	In addition, the MRC recently held a CFS/ME workshop and a note of the discussions will be published on the MRC website in due course.

Dementia: Research

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the Medical Research Council and National Institute for Health Research (Department of Health) spent on dementia research in 2008-09.

Gillian Merron: Combined Medical Research Council and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) expenditure on dementia research in 2008-09 amounted to some £29.9 million. The NIHR component includes the cost of the dementia and neurodegenerative diseases research network.

Health: Screening

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when all patients with a summary care record will be offered HealthSpace; and how many people have registered each year since December 2003 in the early adopter areas.

Mike O'Brien: Any person aged 16 or over may choose to open a HealthSpace account. It is not necessary for patients to have a summary care record to take advantage of HealthSpace. Information on the take-up to date of HealthSpace accounts is not held in the form requested. As at 17 November 2009, altogether there were some 99,800 HealthSpace accounts.

Hip Replacements: Research

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the risk of a hip replacement being required for those who have a history of jogging on concrete or other hard surfaces; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The Department has not commissioned any specific research or risk assessment into jogging on hard surfaces, although the chief medical officer's report At least five a week: evidence on the impact of physical activity and its relationship to health includes a discussion of the effects of physical activity on osteoarthritis. The report has already been placed in the Library.

Hospital Beds: Scarborough and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of hospital beds available within the region served by the Scarborough and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust whilst Bridlington Hospital is being refurbished.

Ann Keen: This is a matter for the North Yorkshire and York primary care trust (PCT). It is the responsibility of the PCT to plan, develop and improve services according to the health care needs of its local population. This includes the appropriate provision of hospital beds to meet anticipated demand.

Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust: Publications

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust has spent on the provision of newsletters in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally. This information can be obtained from the Hull and East Yorkshire hospitals NHS Trust direct.

Learning Disability: Cancer

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) men and  (b) women with a learning disability waited over 18 weeks after diagnosis of cancer to treatment in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	The NHS Cancer Plan (2000) committed that no patient diagnosed with cancer should wait longer than 31 days between diagnosis and first definitive treatment for cancer. The 31-day cancer waiting time standard was introduced for all cancer patients from December 2005. Data to monitor national health service performance against this standard are published quarterly on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Statistics/Performancedataandstatistics/HospitalWaitingTimesandListStatistics/CancerWaitingTimes/index.htm
	The number of patients with learning difficulties are not identified within this data collection.

Learning Disability: Prostate Cancer

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the prostate cancer screening programme is accessible for men with a learning disability; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: There is currently no national screening programme for prostate cancer. However, in March 2009, we announced that the UK National Screening Committee will review new evidence surrounding screening for prostate cancer. The Committee is due to report back to Ministers during 2010.
	In 2002, as part of the Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme (PCRMP), a pack of materials was produced for use in primary care to help men make an informed choice about having a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test. If a man wants a PSA test after consultation with his general practitioner (GP) and consideration of the information leaflet included for men, he may have one free on the national health service.
	The PCRMP packs have been formally evaluated and revised packs were issued to GPs in August 2009. The PCRMP Scientific Reference Group discussed whether separate materials should be produced for men with a learning disability. They concluded that as the programme was aimed at men with no symptoms of prostate cancer, was not a population screening programme, and the patient leaflet was an aide memoire following a consultation with a primary care practitioner, it would not be appropriate to produce such materials. The primary care team should use their best clinical judgment in explaining the materials for men with a learning disability who are aware of the programme or whose carers are aware of the programme, especially if the individual is at a higher risk of prostate cancer if, for example, his brother has had prostate cancer.

Mental Health Services

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been treated for mental illness on the NHS in each of the last 10 years.

Phil Hope: This information is not available. Most treatment for mental health problems occurs in primary care settings, where information on the number of patients treated for specific conditions is not collected.
	Approximately one in six adults in England has a common mental illness, like anxiety or mild depression at any given time, with one in four adults experiencing mental ill health at some stage in their lives. Approximately one in 100 people are thought to have a severe mental illness like schizophrenia or psychosis.

Musculoskeletal Disorders: Primary Care Trusts

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of primary care trust funding levels for treatment of musculoskeletal conditions in 2008-09.

Ann Keen: No specific assessment of primary care trust (PCT) funding levels for treatment of musculoskeletal conditions has been made.
	All primary care trusts have undertaken a comprehensive needs assessment as part of developing their strategic plans.
	As long as PCTs meet national standards and guidance, the local national health service is free to make decisions on spending priorities based on the character and needs of their local population. Local NHS organisations are answerable to their local populations for the decisions that they make.

NHS: Pensions

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) current,  (b) retired and  (c) deferred members of the NHS pension scheme (i) were members prior to 1 April 2008 and (ii) have joined the scheme since 1 April 2008.

Ann Keen: As at 31 March 2008 there were 1,336,576 active members, 411,458 deferred members and 583,705 retired members of the NHS Pension Scheme.
	In the year from 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009, there were a total of 155,100 new entrants to the Scheme. These comprised new members, deferred members who rejoined and members who transferred in from other pension schemes. Retired members of the 1995 section of the scheme are unable to rejoin after retirement. It is not possible to give a breakdown of the joiners into new members, deferred members who rejoined and transfers in.
	 Source:
	NHS Pension Scheme and NHS Compensation for Premature Retirement Scheme Resource Accounts 2007-08 and 2008-09 in.

Patients: Transport

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of  (a) the number of volunteers using their own vehicle to transport patients on behalf of the NHS and  (b) the mileage covered by these volunteers in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many volunteers who used their own vehicle to transport patients on behalf of the NHS were reimbursed in 2008; and what his most recent estimate is of the equivalent figure in 2009 to date.

Mike O'Brien: No assessment has been made by the Department of the use of voluntary drivers. Any assessment of voluntary car schemes would be for the local national health service to make.
	We are aware of the huge contribution that volunteer drivers make to health and well being by offering transport free of charge to many vulnerable and potentially isolated patients and service users. The Department is currently working to develop a strategic vision for volunteering in health and social care which will acknowledge this contribution and highlight the importance of volunteer expenses being reimbursed.

Pharmacy

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to lay the draft Pharmacy Order before Parliament.

Mike O'Brien: The draft Pharmacy Order 2010 was laid in both the Westminster and Scottish Parliaments on 11 November 2009.

Sickle Cell Disease: Pain

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence plans to issue clinical guidelines for the management of pain in sickle cell disease.

Mike O'Brien: We have not asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to develop guidance on the management of pain in sickle cell disease. A proposal for a short clinical guideline relating to the management of sickle cell crises in hospital is currently being considered through NICE's topic selection process.

Social Services: Sight Impairment

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what percentage of blind or partially-sighted people have received a visit from social services in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what percentage of blind or partially-sighted people have been offered formal counselling to help deal with the trauma of sight loss in each of the last five years;
	(3)  what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of support for blind and partially-sighted people.

Phil Hope: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care does not collect the data requested.
	However, councils with social services responsibilities are responsible for the organisation of services in its area. Progress in Sight National Standard of Social Care for Visually Impaired Adults provides a framework against which councils can benchmark their existing services and able them to focus more clearly on what they need to do in order to reach the required standard.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many people working in  (a) pubs,  (b) bars and  (c) nightclubs have been prosecuted for selling alcohol to underage persons in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many  (a) shop and  (b) supermarket workers have been prosecuted for selling alcohol to underage persons in each of the last five years.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 23 November 2009
	Data showing the number of males, females and other defendants proceeded against for selling alcohol to persons aged under 18, in England and Wales from 2003 to 2007 (latest available) are shown in Table 1.
	Establishments are included as other defendants, it is not possible to differentiate between sales on and off premises in the court proceedings database.
	Table 2 shows the number of penalty notices for disorder issued for Sale of alcohol to a person aged under 18 by gender from 2004 to 2007 (latest available).
	Statistics for 2008 are planned for publication at the end of January 2010.
	
		
			  Table  1:  Number of males, females and other defendants( 1)  proceeded against at magistrates court for selling alcohol to persons aged under 18( 2) , in England and Wales from 2003 to 2007, broken down by police force area( 3,4) 
			  Force  Sex  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Avon and Somerset Male 1 - 7 2 - 
			  Female - - 7 3 1 
			  Other defendant 1 - - - - 
			  Total 2 - 14 5 1 
			
			 Bedfordshire Male 1 5 10 23 2 
			  Female 1 2 - 1 - 
			  Other defendant - - -  - 
			  Total 2 7 10 24 2 
			
			 Cambridgeshire Male - 3 6 16 8 
			  Female - 1 3 11 2 
			  Other defendant - - - - - 
			  Total - 4 9 27 10 
			
			 Cheshire Male 8 14 4 6 6 
			  Female 7 6 4 - - 
			  Other defendant 1 - - - - 
			  Total 16 20 8 6 6 
			
			 Cleveland Male 1 6 11 8 8 
			  Female 1 4 3 3 5 
			  Other defendant 2 - - - - 
			  Total 4 10 14 11 13 
			
			 Cumbria Male 1 1 2 1 1 
			  Female - - 6 - - 
			  Other defendant - - - - - 
			  Total 1 1 8 1 1 
			
			 Derbyshire Male 27 18 9 7 6 
			  Female 10 4 4 1 1 
			  Other defendant - - - - - 
			  Total 37 22 13 8 7 
			
			 Devon and Cornwall Male - 7 5 4 3 
			  Female - 5 3 2 2 
			  Other defendant - - - - - 
			  Total -- 12 8 6 5 
			
			 Dorset Male 7 6 30 6 2 
			  Female 2 4 5 1 - 
			  Other defendant - - - - - 
			  Total 9 10 35 7 2 
			
			 Durham Male - 2 2 - 1 
			  Female - - - - 2 
			  Other defendant - - - - - 
			  Total - 2 2 - 3 
			
			 Essex Male 4 1 8 14 12 
			  Female 3 1 - 2 2 
			  Other defendant - - - - - 
			  Total 7 2 8 16 14 
			
			 Gloucestershire Male - 1 4 9 3 
			  Female - - 1 1 - 
			  Other defendant - - - - - 
			  Total - 1 5 10 3 
			
			  Male 85 124 81 111 30 
			 Greater Manchester Female 40 55 36 48 5 
			  Other defendant 4 1 - 1 - 
			  Total 129 180 117 160 35 
			
			 Hampshire Male - 6 7 2 4 
			  Female - 3 4 - - 
			  Other defendant - - - - - 
			  Total - 9 11 2 4 
			
			 Hertfordshire Male 1 7 3 40 21 
			  Female - 1 - - 2 
			  Other defendant - - - - 1 
			  Total 1 8 3 40 24 
			
			 Humberside Male - 3 2 3 2 
			  Female - 8 - 3 3 
			  Other defendant - - - - - 
			  Total - 11 2 6 5 
			
			 Kent Male 9 10 13 2 2 
			  Female 3 3 1 - - 
			  Other defendant - 2 - - - 
			  Total 12 15 14 2 2 
			
			 Lancashire Male 15 14 49 22 24 
			  Female 8 8 40 10 3 
			  Other defendant - - - - - 
			  Total 23 22 89 32 27 
			
			 Leicestershire Male 9 9 21 35 40 
			  Female 6 - 6 10 15 
			  Other defendant - 1 - - - 
			  Total 15 10 27 45 55 
			
			 Lincolnshire Male 9 3 7 5 2 
			  Female 8 1 4 5 1 
			  Other defendant - - - - - 
			  Total 17 4 11 10 3 
			
			 Merseyside Male 25 13 12 12 21 
			  Female 16 6 4 22 7 
			  Other defendant 1 - - - - 
			  Total 42 19 16 34 28 
			
			 Metropolitan Police Male 84 133 223 197 136 
			  Female 13 22 28 24 18 
			  Other defendant 16 12 2 15 22 
			  Total 113 167 253 236 176 
			
			 Norfolk Male 1 6 - - 1 
			  Female - 3 3 - 1 
			  Other defendant - - - - - 
			  Total 1 9 3 - 2 
			
			 North Yorkshire Male 3 16 2 25 16 
			  Female 4 6 1 16 13 
			  Other defendant - - - 27 - 
			  Total 7 22 3 68 29 
			
			 Northamptonshire Male - - 7 11 7 
			  Female - - 4 2 - 
			  Other defendant - - - - - 
			  Total - - 11 13 7 
			
			 Northumbria Male 31 36 65 30 8 
			  Female 7 14 14 10 4 
			  Other defendant - 1 - 1 - 
			  Total 38 51 79 41 12 
			
			 Nottinghamshire Male 5 - 6 26 3 
			  Female 4 - 5 11 2 
			  Other defendant - - - - - 
			  Total 9 - 11 37 5 
			
			 South Yorkshire Male - 4 11 8 4 
			  Female - 1 7 2 3 
			  Other defendant - - - - 2 
			  Total - 5 18 10 9 
			
			 Staffordshire Male 3 5 14 13 16 
			  Female 5 - 6 10 10 
			  Other defendant - - - - - 
			  Total 8 5 20 23 26 
			
			 Suffolk Male - 1 1 2 - 
			  Female - - 2 2 - 
			  Other defendant - - - - - 
			  Total - 1 3 4 - 
			
			 Surrey Male 4 9 12 17 3 
			  Female - 1 1 1 2 
			  Other defendant - - - - - 
			  Total 4 10 13 18 5 
			
			 Sussex Male 7 3 2 23 8 
			  Female 1 1 2 9 3 
			  Other defendant - - - 1 - 
			  Total 8 4 4 33 11 
			
			 Thames Valley Male 2 19 6 28 14 
			  Female 4 8 9 8 6 
			  Other defendant - 1 - - - 
			  Total 6 28 15 36 20 
			
			 Warwickshire Male 19 17 5 2 1 
			  Female 7 9 2 - - 
			  Other defendant 1 - - - - 
			  Total 27 26 7 2 1 
			
			 West Mercia Male 7 3 17 10 5 
			  Female - 1 2 - - 
			  Other defendant - 1 - - - 
			  Total 7 5 19 10 5 
			
			 West Midlands Male 20 34 53 55 40 
			  Female - 11 22 18 16 
			  Other defendant - - 1 1 1 
			  Total 20 45 76 74 57 
			
			 West Yorkshire Male 1 17 9 14 8 
			  Female - 4 6 3 1 
			  Other defendant 1 - - - - 
			  Total 2 21 15 17 9 
			
			 Wiltshire Male 4 5 16 9 5 
			  Female 1 3 7 1 1 
			  Other defendant 1 2 - - - 
			  Total 6 10 23 10 6 
			
			 Dyfed-Powys Male 5 15 4 12 6 
			  Female - 9 2 4 4 
			  Other defendant - - - 2 3 
			  Total 5 24 6 18 13 
			
			 Gwent Male - 8 13 14 8 
			  Female 2 12 3 6 5 
			  Other defendant - - - 1 - 
			  Total 2 20 16 21 13 
			
			 North Wales Male 4 3 8 3 6 
			  Female 3 2 2 1 2 
			  Other defendant - - - - - 
			  Total 7 5 10 4 8 
			
			 South Wales Male 24 27 40 56 22 
			  Female 5 6 15 15 4 
			  Other defendant - 1 - 1 3 
			  Total 29 34 55 72 29 
			
			 England and Wales Male 427 614 807 883 515 
			  Female 161 225 274 266 146 
			  Other defendant 28 22 3 50 32 
			  Total 616 861 1,084 1,199 693 
			 (1) Other defendants include companies and public bodies etc. (2) Includes the following offences: (a) Holder of occasional permission or his agent knowingly selling to, knowingly allow consumption by or allowing any person to sell, intoxicating liquor to a person under 18. Selling etc intoxicating liquor to person under 18 for consumption on the premises. (b) Wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor to a person under 18. (c ) Sale of alcohol to person under 18. (d) Allowing sale of alcohol to person under 18. (e) Persistently selling alcohol to children. (3) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police force. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Evidence and Analysis Unit-Office for Criminal Justice Reform Ref: IOS 043-09 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) issued for sale of alcohol to a person under 18, England and Wales, 2004( 1)  to 2007, broken down by police force area 
			  Force  Sex  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Avon and Somerset Male - 29 25 33 
			  Female - 27 29 27 
			  Total - 56 54 60 
			   
			 Bedfordshire Male - 1 6 10 
			  Female - 1 7 3 
			  Total - 2 13 13 
			   
			 Cambridgeshire Male - 8 14 16 
			  Female - 3 15 6 
			  Total - 11 29 22 
			   
			 Cheshire Male - 21 19 19 
			  Female - 28 31 7 
			  Total - 49 50 26 
			   
			 Cleveland Male - 10 10 27 
			  Female - 23 13 38 
			  Total - 33 23 65 
			   
			 Cumbria Male - 10 11 13 
			  Female - 13 10 27 
			  Total - 23 21 40 
			   
			 Derbyshire Male - 5 16 50 
			  Female - 3 14 51 
			  Total - 8 30 101 
			   
			 Devon and Cornwall Male - 32 54 31 
			  Female - 50 61 38 
			  Total - 82 115 69 
			   
			 Dorset Male 13 3 9 20 
			  Female 9 19 20 15 
			  Total 22 22 29 35 
			   
			 Durham Male - - 1 12 
			  Female - - - 13 
			  Total - - 1 25 
			   
			 Essex Male 3 60 42 53 
			  Female 4 60 52 58 
			  Total 7 120 94 111 
			   
			 Gloucestershire Male - 17 28 44 
			  Female - 25 26 42 
			  Total - 42 54 86 
			   
			 Greater Manchester Male - 60 122 98 
			  Female - 67 89 43 
			  Total - 127 211 141 
			   
			 Hampshire Male 1 31 57 114 
			  Female 1 36 52 91 
			  Total 2 67 109 205 
			   
			 Hertfordshire Male - 2 30 46 
			  Female - 1 11 21 
			  Total - 3 41 67 
			   
			 Humberside Male 1 13 22 46 
			  Female 1 32 26 52 
			  Total 2 45 48 98 
			   
			 Kent Male - 8 3 16 
			  Female - 2 2 7 
			  Total - 10 5 23 
			   
			 Lancashire Male 17 95 105 100 
			  Female 13 95 101 90 
			  Total 30 190 206 190 
			   
			 Leicestershire Male 2 22 26 89 
			  Female - 24 33 61 
			  Total 2 46 59 150 
			   
			 Lincolnshire Male - 10 21 15 
			  Female - 16 36 39 
			  Total - 26 57 54 
			   
			 Merseyside Male 2 44 56 72 
			  Female - 29 71 103 
			  Total 2 73 127 175 
			   
			 Metropolitan Police Male 12 113 190 264 
			  Female 9 48 62 77 
			  Total 21 161 252 341 
			   
			 Norfolk Male - - 5 17 
			  Female - - 5 19 
			  Total - - 10 36 
			   
			 Northamptonshire Male 1 15 18 15 
			  Female - 24 16 7 
			  Total 1 39 34 22 
			   
			 Northumbria Male 1 24 47 44 
			  Female - 24 37 23 
			  Total 1 48 84 67 
			   
			 North Yorkshire Male - - 4 8 
			  Female - - 7 17 
			  Total - - 11 25 
			   
			 Nottinghamshire Male 3 54 125 81 
			  Female 6 63 140 87 
			  Total 9 117 265 168 
			   
			 South Yorkshire Male 1 47 76 69 
			  Female 1 60 82 90 
			  Total 2 107 158 159 
			   
			 Staffordshire Male - 6 34 32 
			  Female - 13 41 35 
			  Total - 19 75 67 
			   
			 Suffolk Male - 11 14 7 
			  Female - 8 7 13 
			  Total - 19 21 20 
			   
			 Surrey Male - - 22 57 
			  Female - - 12 15 
			  Total - - 34 72 
			   
			 Sussex Male - 29 116 63 
			  Female - 34 100 56 
			  Total - 63 216 119 
			   
			 Thames Valley Male - 8 59 80 
			  Female - 4 36 51 
			  Total - 12 95 131 
			   
			 Warwickshire Male - 3 1 24 
			  Female - - 4 13 
			  Total - 3 5 37 
			   
			 West Mercia Male 1 4 11 16 
			  Female - 18 23 20 
			  Total 1 22 34 36 
			   
			 West Midlands Male 2 69 83 90 
			  Female 4 45 60 45 
			  Total 6 114 143 135 
			   
			 West Yorkshire Male 4 32 64 97 
			  Female - 40 41 64 
			  Total 4 72 105 161 
			   
			 Wiltshire Male - 5 9 15 
			  Female - 3 9 9 
			  Total - 8 18 24 
			   
			 Dyfed-Powys Male - 6 5 9 
			  Female - 12 4 11 
			  Total - 18 9 20 
			   
			 Gwent Male - 9 27 37 
			  Female - 11 23 34 
			  Total - 20 50 71 
			   
			 North Wales Male 1 20 41 29 
			  Female - 38 42 34 
			  Total 1 58 83 63 
			   
			 South Wales Male - 70 67 28 
			  Female - 53 50 25 
			  Total - 123 117 53 
			   
			 England and Wales Male 62 1,006 1,695 2,006 
			  Female 51 1,052 1,500 1,577 
			  Total 113 2,058 3,195 3,583 
			 (1) This PND offence was added to the scheme on 1 November 2004.

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people under the age of 18 years have been arrested for alcohol-related acts of disorder or violence in each of the last five years.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 23 November 2009
	The information requested on arrests is not collected centrally.
	The arrests collection held by the Home Office covers arrests for recorded crime (notifiable offences) only, broken down at a main offence group level, covering categories such as violence against the person and robbery. It is not possible to identify the number of arrests made for alcohol related acts of disorder or violence from the data on arrests reported to the Home Office.

Closed Circuit Television: Regulation

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent consideration he has given to the establishment of a TV Regulator in respect of the use of closed circuit television to monitor public space; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 23 November 2009
	A review of the recommendations of the National CCTV Strategy, including those concerning the regulatory framework, is currently under way. We recognise the important role that CCTV plays in preventing and detecting crime and in raising public confidence. We will announce the outcome of the review to the House.

Crime: Milton Keynes

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes of each type were committed by young people aged  (a) under 16 and  (b) between 16 and 18 years in the Milton Keynes local authority area in each of the last five years.

Alan Campbell: The information requested is not collected centrally. From the recorded crime statistics collected by the Home Office it is not possible to identify the age of the alleged offender.

DNA: Databases

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights in S. and Marper  v. the United Kingdom has been implemented in relation to the functions of the UK Border Agency.

Phil Woolas: The UK Border Agency is mindful of its obligation to ensure that its operations are compatible with the European Convention of Human Rights. The case of S. and Marper found that Article 8 (right to privacy) was infringed by the collection and retention of DNA from those individuals arrested but later acquitted. The Home Office conducted a public consultation exercise from May to August 2009 and the Home Secretary made a written statement announcing the Government's response to the judgement on 11 November 2009,  Official Report, column 25WS.
	The agency has in place in the draft Immigration Bill, currently under pre-legislative scrutiny, provisions for the laying of regulations specifying retention periods. The agency is formulating a retention policy that will be both mindful of the need to protect people's privacy under Article 8 of the ECHR while at the same time ensure that immigration officers have the necessary tools and powers in which to fulfil their jobs. This policy will be subject to public consultation with various interested groups including the Information Commissioner's Office.
	I should like to emphasise however that the UKBA overwhelmingly uses fingerprints, which is less intrusive, rather than DNA for the purpose of immigration control. Where DNA is used, it is done so only on a voluntary basis.

Immigration: Polygamy

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer to Lord Pearson of Rannoch of 21 July 2009,  Official Report,  House of Lords, columns 301-02WA, on polygamy, whether officials in his Department have now determined whether changes to the UK Border Agency's entry clearance guidance are required in the context of polygamous marriages.

Phil Woolas: I have amended the current entry clearance guidance (SET 14.8) to read that any case where there is evidence to suspect a divorce of convenience should be referred to entry clearance support team for consideration and advice.

Immobilisation of Vehicles

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any documents issued by the Security Industry Authority indicate that it is permitted for a licensed clamper to place a clamp on a vehicle displaying a disabled badge.

Alan Campbell: Regulation 6 (2)(a) of the Private Security Industry Act 2001 (Licences) Regulations 2007, states that
	the licensee shall not immobilise, remove or restrict a vehicle in accordance with paragraph 3 or 3A of Schedule 2 to the 2001 Act if the vehicle is an invalid carriage or if a valid disability badge is displayed on the vehicle or if the vehicle is an emergency vehicle which is in use.
	This is made clear on page 19 of the Security Industry Authority's (SIA) publication, Get Licensed. This states that,
	when carrying out front line vehicle immobilisation duties the following conditions must be followed. A vehicle must not be clamped/blocked/towed if:
	a valid disabled badge is displayed on the vehicle;
	it is an emergency service vehicle which is in use as such.
	This document is available on the SIA's website at:
	http://sia.homeoffice.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/725E43BE-2163-4E85-9151-6EAB15990BC1/0/sia_get_licensed.pdf

Police: Newark

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in Newark constituency in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 2009; and how many police community support officers there were in the constituency in (i) 2002 and (ii) 2009.

David Hanson: Police personnel statistics are not collected by parliamentary constituency. Newark constituency is within the Nottinghamshire police force area.
	There were 2,323 police officers in Nottinghamshire constabulary as at 31 March 1997 and 2,380 police officers as at 31 March 2009.
	Police community support officers were not introduced until 2002-03. There were 243 police community support officers in Nottinghamshire constabulary as at 31 March 2009.
	This and other related data are published annually as part of the annual Police Service Strength Home Office Statistical Bulletin. The latest bulletin can be found at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/policeorg1.html
	and bulletins for this and previous years are deposited in the Library of the House.

UK Border Agency

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many telephone calls the UK Border Agency helpline has received in the last 12 months.

Phil Woolas: The UK Border Agency has three principal UK call centres. For the period October 2008 to September 2009 they received 4,888,923 calls.
	This is broken down as follows:
	
		
			  Call centre  Calls received 
			 Sheffield 889,944 
			 Liverpool 1,574,226 
			 IEB 2,424,753 
			 Total 4,888,923

UK Border Agency

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many telephone calls the UK Border Agency helpline has received in the last 12-months.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 23 November 2009
	 The UK Border Agency has three principal call centres. For the period October 2008 to September 2009 they received 4,888,923 calls. This is broken down as follows:
	
		
			  Call centre  Calls received 
			 Sheffield 889,944 
			 Liverpool 1,574,226 
			 IEB 2,424,753 
			 Total 4,888,923

UK Border Agency

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what period of time the UK Border Agency helpline has been out of order in the last 12 months; and what estimate has been made of the number of calls that were not answered as a result of such unavailability.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 23 November 2009
	For the period October 2008 to September 2009 the call centres have not had to close down due to system unavailability.

UK Border Agency

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what periods the UK Border Agency helpline has been out of service in the last 12 months; and what estimate he has made of the number of calls that were not answered as a result of such unavailability.

Phil Woolas: For the period October 2008 to September 2009 the call centres have not had to close down due to system unavailability.